JACK 
HARKAWAY 

AMONG 


THE 


TURKS 


BRACEBRIDGE     HEMYNG 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
LOS  ANGELES 


JACK  HARKAWAY'S 

BOY  TINKER 

AMONG  THE 

TURKS 


BEING  THE  CONCLUSION  OF  THE 
"ADVENTURES  OF  YOUNG  JACK 
H ARKA WAY  AND  HIS  BOY  TINKER" 


IT 

BRACEBRIDGE  HEMYNG 


CHICAGO 
M.  A.  DONOHUE  &  COMPANY 

407-429  DEARBORN  STRICT 


M.  A.    DONOHUE  <5c   COMPANY 
*07.429    DEARBORN    STREET 

CHICAGO 


Jack  Harkaway's  Boy  T;nker 

AMONG  THE  TURKS. 


JACK  GETS  nrro  HOT  WATER — A  MORAL  LESSON,  AND  HOW  HI 

PROFITED  BY  IT — ALL'S  WELL  THAT  ENDS  WELL. 

THE  matter  was  not  ended  here,  however. 

When  they  got  on  board,  there  was  a  very  serious  re- 
ception awaiting  them. 

Their  project  had  been  discovered  and  betrayed  to  the 
skipper  by  some  officious  noodle,  and  Captain  Willis  was 
cot  a  little  alarmed. 

The  consequences  might  be  very  serious. 

So  the  captain  had  Jack  and  Harry  Girdwood  up,  and 
gave  them  a  word  or  two  of  a  sort 

"  We  wish  to  preserve  the  most  friendly  relations  with  the 
people  here,  Mr.  Harkaway,"  said  he,  severely ;  "  and  this 
sort  of  adventure  is  not  calculated  to  achieve  our  object" 

Jack  did  not  attempt  to  deny  what  had  occurred. 

"We  have  done  no  harm,"  he  said;  "we  were  simply 
cruising  about  when  we  saw  murder  done.  We  arrived  too 
late  to  prevent  it,  but  Tinker  was  pleased  to  take  it  upon 
himself  to  avenge  the  murdered  woman,  for  a  woman  it  was, 
as  we  could  tell  from  her  shrieks  as  the  sack  went  under  and 
Oifled  them  for  ever." 

The  captain  was  somewhat  startled  at  this. 

'Is  this  true?" 

"  I  would  have  yon  know,  captain,  that  I  am  not  in  the 
fabit  of  saying  what  is  not  true." 

The  captain  bowed  stiffly  at  young  Jack's  rebuke. 

-* I  don't  wish  to  imply  anything  else,"  he  said;  "  but  be- 


4  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

fore  you  get  too  high  up  in  the  stirrups,  young  gentleman, 
remember  that  I  command  here.  Remember  that  in  your 
own  thirst  for  excitement,  you  act  in  a  way  likely  to  com- 
promise me  as  well  as  everybody  on  board.  You  are  not 
wanting  in  a  proper  appreciation  of  right  and  wrong.  Before 
you  add  anything  worse  to  the  present  discussion,  reflect. 
The  injured  air  which  you  are  pleased  to  assume  is  out  of 
place.  I  leave  you  to  your  own  reflections,  young  gentle* 
man." 

And  so  saying,  the  captain  turned  away  and  left  him. 

Jack's  first  impulse  was  to  walk  after  the  captain,  and  fire 
a  parting  shot. 

But  Harry  Girdwood's  hand  arrested  him. 

'•  Don't  be  foolish,  Jack,"  said  he. 

"Let  go,  I " 

"  Don't  be  foolish,  I  say,  Jack,"  persisted  Harry  Girdwood. 
"  Do  you  know  what  you  are  saying  ?  " 

"  Are  you  siding  against  me  ?  "  exclaimed  Jack. 

"In  a  general  sense  I  am  not  against  you,  but  I  can't 
approve  of  your  replies.  You  had  no  right  to  retort,  and  I 
shouldn't  be  a  true  pal,  Jack,  if  I  spoke  to  your  face  against 
my  convictions." 

Jack  sulked  for  a  little  time. 

And  then  he  did  as  the  captain  had  advised. 

He  reflected. 

He  was  very  soon  led  back  to  the  correct  train  of  thought, 
and  being  a  lad  of  high  moral  courage,  as  well  as  physically 
brave,  he  was  not  afraid  to  acknowledge  when  he  was  in 
the  wrong. 

Harry  Girdwood  walked  a  little  way  off. 

Young  Jack — dare-devil  Jack — coloured  up  as  he  walked 
to  Harry  and  held  out  his  hand. 

"  Tip  us  your  fin,  messmate,"  he  said,  with  forced  gaiety. 
"  You  are  right,  I  was  wrong,  of  course." 

He  turned  off. 

"  Where  are  you  going  ?  "  demanded  Harry. 

"To  the  captain." 

"What  for?" 

"To  apologise  for  being  insolent." 

Off  he  went. 

"  Captain  Willis." 

"  Do  you  want  me,  Mr.  Harkaway  ?  "  asked  the  captain. 

The  chief  mate  was  standing  by,  and  Jack  did  not  feel 


BIS  BOY  TINKER.  5 

that  he  had  so  far  offended  as  to  have  to  expiate  his  fault  in 
public. 

"  When  you  are  disengaged,  Captain  Willis,  I  would  beg 
the  favour  of  half  a  word  with  you." 

"  Is  it  urgent,  Mr.  Harkaway  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  have  been  refractory,  Captain  Willis." 

A  faint  smile  stole  over  the  captain's  face  in  spite  of  his 
endeavour  to  repress  it. 

"  I  will  see  you  below  presently,"  he  said  to  the  mate. 
u  Come  down  to  me  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour  or  so." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  the  mate. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Harkaway,  I'm  at  your  service,"  said  Captain 
Willis,  walking  forward. 

Jack  grew  rather  red  in  the  face  at  this. 

Then  he  made  a  plunge,  and  blurted  it  all  out. 

'•  I  have  been  an  idiot,  Captain  Willis,  and  I  want  you  to 
know  that  I  thoroughly  appreciate  your  fairness  and  high 
sense  of  justice." 

"Now  you  are  flattering  me,  Mr.  Harkaway,"  said  the 
captain. 

"  Captain  Willis,"  said  impetuous  Jack,  "  if  you  call  me 
Mr.  Harkaway,  I  shall  think  that  you  are  stiff-backed  and 
bear  malice." 

"  What  a  wild  fellow  you  are,"  said  the  captain.  "  Why, 
what  on  earth  shall  I  call  you  ?  " 

"  Jack,  sir,"  returned  our  hero.  a  John  on  Sunday  and 
holidays,  if  you  prefer  it,  just  as  a  proof  that  you  don't  bear 
any  ill  feeling  to  a  madman,  who  has  the  good  luck  to  have 
a  lucid  interval,  and  to  apologise  heartily  as  I  do  now." 

The  captain  held  out  his  hand. 

Jack  dropped  his  into  it  with  a  spank,  and  grasped  it 
warmly. 

"  Don't  say  any  more  on  this  subject,  Mr. —  I  mean,  Jack>" 
said  the  captain,  smiling,  "  or  you  will  make  me  quite  un- 
comfortable." 

And  so  the  matter  ended. 

Jack  could  not  be  dull  for  long  together. 

He  plucked  up  his  old  vivacity,  and  went  off  to  Mr. 
Figgins'  cabin. 

"  I  must  go  and  give  the  orphan  a  turn,"  said  he. 


YOUNG  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 


CHAPTER  LX. 

TURKISH  CUSTOMS— JACK  GIVES  THE  ORPHAN  A  NOTION  OF 
WHAT  HE  MAY  EXPECT — MATRIMONIAL  WEAKNESSES — PASHA 
BLUEBEARD — THE  SORT  OF  A  MAN  HE  \S — HIS  EXCEL- 
LENCY'S VISIT — MR.  FIGGINS  IS  SPECIALLY  INVITED — HOPES 
AND  FEARS. 

JACK  found  Mr.  Figgins  in  his  cabin,  squatting  on  a 
cushion  cross-legged. 

Tinker  and  Bogey  were  attending  upon  him. 

Since  their  desperate  dive  into  the  sea,  and  the  adventure 
with  the  shark,  the  two  darkeys  and  the  orphan  had  become 
fast  friends. 

"  Hullo,  Mr.  Figgins,"  said  Jack,  in  surprise,  "  what's  go- 
ing forward  now  ? " 

"  Only  practising  Turkish  manners  and  customs,"  returned 
Mr.  Figgins,  quite  seriously.  "  I  mean  to  go  ashore  to- 
morrow, and  make  some  acquaintances  ;  I  shouldn't  like 
to  appear  quite  strange  when  I  got  ashore.  When  in 
Rome " 

"  You  must  do  as  the  Romans  do,"  added  young  Jack. 

"Yes;  and  when  in  Turkey,"  said  the  orphan,  "you 
must " 

"  Do  as  the  Turkeys  do,"  concluded  Jack. 

" Precisely,"  added  the  orphan.     "That's  it." 

"  You  are  practising  to  smoke  the  long  hookah  to  begin 
with." 

"  Yes — no — it's  a  chibouk,"  said  Mr.  Figgins.  "  That  is 
all  you  have  to  know,  I  believe,  to  make  yourself  thoroughly 
well  received  in  Turkish  polite  society." 

"  Every  thing,"  responded  Jack,  "  with  a  hook — ah." 

"  I  didn't  feel  very  comfortable  over  it  at  first,"  said  the 
orphan,  "  but  I'm  getting  on  now." 

"  There's  one  danger  you  are  exposed  to  on  going  ashore." 

"  What's  that  ?  " 

"  Any  gentleman  having  the  slightest  pretensions  to  good 
looks  is  nearly  always  obliged  to  get  married  a  few  times." 

Mr.  Figgins  stared  aghast  at  this. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  7 

"  A  few  times  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  But  I'm  an  orphan." 

"  No  matter ;  it's  a  fact,  sir,  I  assure  you,"  said  Jack, 
gravely. 

Mr.  Figgins  looked  exceedingly  alarmed. 

44  If  I  could  believe  that  there  was  any  thing  more  in  that, 
than  your  joking,  Mr.  Jack,  I  should  be  precious  uncom- 
fortable." 

"Why?" 

"Because  my  experience  of  matrimony  has  been  anything 
but  pleasant  already,"  responded  the  orphan. 

**  You  have  been  married,  then  ?  "  said  Jack,  in  surprise. 

"  Once." 

"Very  moderate  that,  sir,"  said  Jack.  "You  are  a 
widower,  I  suppose,  then  ?  " 

u  I  suppose  so." 

"  You  are  not  sure  ?  " 

**  Not  quite." 

"  Ah,  well,  then,  it  won't  be  so  bad  for  you  as  it  might" 

"What  won't?" 

"  Marriage." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  Jack,"  exclaimed  the  orphan ; 
"  my  experience  of  the  happy  state  was  any  thing  but  agree- 
able with  one  wife.  Goodness  knows  how  long  I  should 
survive  if  I  had,  as  you  say,  several  wives." 

"  Don't  worry  yourself,  Mr.  Figgins,"  said  Jack,  "  but  it 
is  just  as  well  to  be  prepared." 

"  For  what  ?  " 

"  An  emergency.  You  don't  know  what  might  happen  to 
you  in  this  country." 

Mr.  Figgins  looked  really  very  anxious  at  this. 

"  I  don't  well  see  how  they  can  marry  a  man." 

"  That's  not  the  question,  Mr.  Figgins.  You  could  refuse. 
It  would  cost  you  your  life  for  a  certainty." 

The  orphan  nearly  rolled  off  his  cushion. 

"  What !  " 

"  Fact,  I  assure  you  "  said  Jack,  gravely. 

"Explain." 

"  You  will  be  expected  to  pay  a  visit  of  state  to  the 
pasha." 

"  Yes." 

"  That  is  the  greatest  honour  on  landing  for  a  stranger." 


8  YOUNG  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  What  is  a  pasha  ? " 

"  The  governor  of  the  province,  a  regular  Bung." 

"  Well." 

"  Bluebeard  was  a  pasha,  you  remember." 

"  No,  no,"  interrupted  the  orphan,  delighted  to  show  hit 
historical  accuracy.  "  Bluebeard  was  a  bashaw." 

"  It  is  the  same  thing,  another  way  of  writing  or  pro- 
nouncing the  identical  same  dignity  or  rank.  Well,  you 
know  that  polygamy  is  the  pet  vice  of  the  followers  of 
Islam." 

"  Oh,  it's  dreadful,  Jack." 

"The  greater  the  man,  the  greater  the  polygamist.  A 
pasha  has  as  many  wives  as  he  can  keep,  and  more  too. 
The  pasha  of  this  province  is  not  rich  for  his  rank,  and  for 
his  matrimonial  proclivities." 

"  Lor' ! " 

"How  many  wives  should  you  suppose  he  has?''  askea 
Jack,  with  an  air  of  deep  gravity. 

"  Don't  know,"  replied  the  orphan,  quietly. 

*'  Ninety-eight  living." 

Mr.  Figgins  jumped  up  and  dropped  his  chibouk. 

"  Never." 

**  A  fact,"  asserted  Jack,  with  gravity. 

"  Why,  the  man  must  be  a  regular  Bluebeard." 

"  You've  hit  it,  sir,"  responded  Jack ;  "  that's  the  sort  of 
man  he  is." 

"  Well,  that  is  all  very  well  for  the  Turks  and  for  these 
old  sinners  the  pashas,  but  I  am  an  Englishman." 

"  This  is  the  way  it  will  most  likely  be  done,"  continued 
Jack.  "  On  your  presentation  to  his  excellency  the  pasha, 
you  are  expected  to  make  some  present.  The  pasha  makes 
a  return  visit  of  ceremony,  and  leaves  behind  him  some 
solid  evidence  of  his  liberality." 

"  Well  ? " 

"  Well,  but  the  very  highest  compliment  that  a  pasha  can 
pay  you  is  to  leave  you  one  of  his  wives.  He  generally 
makes  it  an  old  stock-keeper,  something  that  has  been  a  good 
thirty  years  or  so  in  the  seraglio." 

Mr.  Figgins  took  the  liveliest  interest  in  this  narrative. 

He  was  growing  rapidly  convinced  of  the  truth  of  Jack's 
descriptions  of  these  singular  manners  and  customs  of  the 
country  in  which  they  were. 

Yet  he  eyed  Jack  as  one  who  has  a  lingering  doubt. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  9 

"  Ahem  !  "  said  Mr.  Figgins,  "  I  don't  think  that  I  shall 
join  you  on  your  visit  ashore  in  the  morning." 

"  We'll  see  in  the  morning,"  said  Jack ;  "  it's  a  pity  to  put 
off  your  trip  for  the  sake  of  such  a  trifling  danger  as  that  of 
having  a  wife  or  so  given  to  you." 

"  It's  no  use,"  said  Mr.  Figgins,  "  my  mind  is  fully  made 
up  ;  I  shall  not  visit  the  pasha." 

"  It  will  be  taken  as  a  grave  insult  to  go  ashore  without 
paying  your  respects  to  his  excellency." 

"  I  can't  help  that,"  returned  the  orphan,  resolutely ;  "  I 
won't  visit  him." 

"  Mr.  Figgins,'*  said  Jack,  in  a  voice  of  deep  solemnity, 
"  these  Turks  are  cruel,  vindictive,  and  revengeful.  The 
last  Englishman  who  refused  was,  by  order  of  the  pasha, 
skinned  alive,  placed  on  the  sunny  side  of  a  wall,  and  blown 
to  death  by  flies." 

"  Surely  the  Turks  are  not  such  barbarians,"  said  Mr.  Fig- 
gins. 

"  You'll  find  they  are.  They'd  think  no  more  of  polish- 
ing you  off  than  of  killing  a  fly." 

If  that  rascal  Jack  intended  to  make  poor  Mr.  Figgins 
uneasy,  he  certainly  succeeded  very  well. 

Mr.  Figgins  looked  supremely  miserable. 

"  Good  night,  Mr.  Figgins.     Think  it  over." 

"  I  tell  you  I " 

"  Never  mind,  don't  decide  too  rashly.     Pleasant  dreams." 

"  Pleasant  dreams,"  said  the  orphan.  "  I  shall  have  the 
nightmare." 

The  orphan's  pillow  was  haunted  that  night  by  visions  of 
a  terrible  nature. 

He  fancied  himself  in  the  presence  of  a  turbaned  Turk,  a 
powerful  pasha,  who  was  sitting  cross-legged  on  an  ottoman, 
smoking  a  pipe,  of  endless  length,  and  holding  in  his  hand  a 
drawn  sword — a  scimitar  that  looked  ready  to  chop  his  head 
off. 

Beside  this  terrible  Turk  stood  five  ladies,  in  baggy  trou- 
sers, and  long  veils. 

No  words  were  spoken,  but  instinctively  the  orphan  knew 
that  he  had  to  decide  between  the  scimitar  and  the  quintet 
of  wives — wall-flowers  of  the  pasha's  harem. 

Silently,  in  mute  horror,  the  orphan  was  about  to  submit  to 
the  least  of  the  two  evils,  and  choose  a  wife. 

Then  he  awoke  suddenly. 


10  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

What  an  immense  relief  it  was  to  find  it  only  a  dream  after 
all. 

"  I  don't  quite  believe  that  young  Harkaway,"  said  the 
orphan,  dubiously ;  "  he  is  such  a  dreadful  practical  joker. 
But  I  won't  go  on  shore,  nevertheless.  It's  not  very  inter- 
esting to  see  these  savages,  after  all ;  they  really  are  nothing 
more  than  savages." 

And  after  a  long  and  tedious  time  spent  in  endeavouring 
to  get  to  sleep  again,  he  dropped  off. 

But  only  to  dream  again  about  getting  very  much  married. 


He  slept  far  into  the  morning,  for  his  dreams  had  dis- 
turbed him  much,  and  he  was  tired  out. 

When  he  awoke,  there  was  someone  knocking  at  his  cabin 
door. 

"Come  in." 

"  It's  only  me,  Mr.  Figgins,"  said  a  familiar  voice. 

"  Come  in,  captain." 

Captain  Deering  entered. 

"  Not  up  yet,  Mr.  Figgins  ? "  he  said,  in  surprise.  "  We've 
got  visitors  aboard  already." 

"  Dear  me." 

"  Distinguished  visitors.    The  pasha  and  his  suite." 

"  You  don't  say  so  ?  "  exclaimed  the  orphan,  sitting  up. 

"  Fact,  sir/'  returned  the  captain.  "  It  must  be  ten  years 
since  I  last  had  the  honour  of  an  interview  with  his  excel- 
lency." 

"  You  know  him,  then,  Captain  Deering  ?  " 

"  Rather.  Been  here  often.  Know  every  inch  of  the 
Country,"  said  the  captain. 

"  What  sort  of  a  man  is  the  pasha  ? "  said  the  orphan, 
thinking  of  Jack's  statement. 

"  Oh,  a  decent  fellow  enough,  unless  he's  riled,"  was  the 
reply. 

"  Do  you  speak  the  language  ?  "  said  the  orphan. 

"  Like  a  native." 

"  Is  he  as  much  married  as  they  say  ? "  demanded  Mr. 
Figgins. 

The  captain  smiled. 

"  His  excellency  has  a  weakness  that  way ;  but,"  he  added, 
in  a  warning  voice,  "you  must  not  make  any  allusion  to 
that" 


B2S  BOY  TINKER-  n 

-IwontseeMm.-saidMr.riggiQs.  -  1  don't  intend  to 
lint  him." 

"Bat  I  hare  come  to  fetch  yoa  to  pay  yoar  respects.  w 

"Where?" 

"  Here,  on  bond,  in  the  state  saloon." 

-But  -  " 

44  Make  haste,  Mr.  Figgins,"  interrupted  Captain  Deering. 
"  It  is  no  joke  to  make  a  pasha  wait.  Look  alive.  HI  come 
and  fetch  you  in  five  minutes.  Up  you  get." 

And  then  Captain  Deering  departed. 

Mr.  Figgins  was  sorely  perpkxed  now. 

But  he  arose  and  hqgMi  to  dic=a»  himself  as  quickly  as 
' 


After  all,"  he  said  to  himself,  "it  is  just  as  well  I 
should  certainty  like  to  see  the  pasha,  and  this  is  a  bit  of 
luck,  for  there's  no  danger  here  at  any  rate,  if  what  that 
young  Harkaway  said  was  true." 

He  went  to  the  Tflnffff  door  and  shouted  out  tot  Tinker. 

"Tinker!" 

-He's  engaged,"  answered  Captain  Deering,  who  was 
dose  by. 

"IwWtfcV 

-  He's  away,  attending   his  excellency  in  the  saloon," 
letned  Captain  Dtering. 

-Bogeytnen> 

-  Bogey*  Aoetoa- 

-  Never  smuL» 

"Are  you  nearly  ready  ?" 

"Yes.* 

•Look  sharp.  I  wouldn't  have  his  excellency  pot  oat  of 
temper  for  the  world;  it  would  be  sure  to  result  hi  the 
bowstringmg  of  a  few  of  his  poor  devils  of  slaves  when  be 
nd  yon  wouldn't  care  to  have  that  on 


Mr.  Figgins  very  hurriedly  completed  his  toilet. 

"Whatafiend  this  wretched  old  bigamist  must  be,"  be 
said  to  Mmsetf.    «  Fm  precious  glad  " 
warned  me.  after  aU.    I  might  have  got  into 
if  I  had  gone  ashore  without  knowing  this." 

*  Stop,"  said  the  captain.    "  Have  you  any  thing  to  take 
his  excellency  as  a  present  ?" 

This  made  the  orphan  feel  somewhat  nervous. 

It  tended  to  confirm  what  young  Jack  had  said. 


1 2  YOUNG  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  It  is,  then,  the  custom  to  make  presents  ?  "  he  said. 

"  Yes." 

"  What  shall  I  give  ?  " 

"  Any  thing.    That's  a  very  nice  watch  you  wear." 

"  Must  I  give  that  ?  " 

"  Yes.  His  excellency  is  sure  to  present  you  with  a  much 
richer  one — that's  Turkish  etiquette." 

This  again  corroborated  Jack's  words. 

Yet  it  was  a  far  more  pleasant  way  of  putting  it  than  Jack 
had  thought  fit  to  do. 

Mr.  Figgins  only  objected  to  a  present  of  wives. 

Any  thing  rich  in  the  way  of  jewellery  was  quite  another 
matter. 

"  On  entering  the  presence,  you  have  only  to  prostrate 
yourself  three  times ;  the  third  time  you  work  it  so  that  you 
just  touch  his  excellency's  toe  with  your  lips." 

"  I  hope  his  excellency's  boots  will  be  clean." 

"  His  excellency  would  not  insult  you  by  letting  you  kiss 
his  boot.  No  boot  or  stocking  does  he  wear." 

Mr.  Figgins  made  an  awfully  wry  face  at  this. 

"  Ugh  !     I  don't  like  the  idea  of  kissing  a  naked  toe." 

"  You'll  soon  get  used  to  it,"  said  the  captain,  cheerfully, 
"  when  you've  kissed  as  many  pashas'  toes  as  I  have.  Hold 
your  tongue — here  we  are." 

He  pushed  open  the  saloon  door  and  ushered  Mr.  Figgins 
into  the  presence  of  his  excellency. 


CHAPTER  LXI. 

MORE  ABOUT  CHIVEY  AND  HIS  MASTER — THE  FATAL  PIT — IS  IT 
THE  END  ? — ARTFUL  CHIVEY  AND  THE  ARTFULLER  NOTARY 
— DIAMOND  CUT  DIAMOND — HOW  THE  TIGER  PREPARED  TO 
SPRING — HERBERT  MURRAY  IN  DANGER. 

BEFORE  we  proceed  to  describe  the  orphan's  presentation 
to  that  arch  polygamist,  the  Turkish  pasha,  and  the  remark- 
able result  of  that  interview,  we  must  look  around  and  see 
if  we  are  not  neglecting  any  of  the  characters  whose  event- 
ful careers  we  have  undertaken  to  chronicle. 

We  are  losing  sight  of  one  at  least,  who  has  a  very  de- 
cided claim  upon  our  attention. 

This  person  is  none  other  than  Herbert  Murray. 


HIS  BOY  TIWKER. 

TTie  reader  win  not  have  forgotten  under  what 
stances  we  parted  company  with  this  unscrupulous  son  of  an 
father. 


Goaded 


to  desperation  by  his  vfflanous  servant,  Herbert 
Murray  turned  upon  the  traitor  and  hurled  him  down  the 
gravel  pit. 

Then  the  assassin  walked  away  from  the  scene. 

Bat  ere  he  had  got  far,  his  steps  were  arrested  by  die 
sound  of  a  groan. 

A  groan  that  came  from  the  grcvel  pit. 

"Was  it  my  fancy?" 

No. 

Surety  not. 

There  it  was  again. 

A  low  moan-  a  wafl  of  anguish. 

•  • 


"Not  dead? 

He  went  round  nearly  to  the  bottom  of  the  pit,  and  peered 
over. 

There  was  Chivey  Iranmg  upon  his  elbow  groaning  with 
bruises,  and  di 


the  severity  of  his  bruises,  and  the  dreadful  shock  he  had 
•cccived. 

"You've  done  for  me,  now,"  he  moaned,  as  he  caught 
sight  of  his  master. 

•No;  but  I  shan,"  retorted  the  assassin. 

And  he  took  a  deliberate  aim  with  the  pistol 

•  I  expected  this,"  said  Chivey,  faintly ;  "but  remember 
murder  is  a  hanging  matter." 

"  I  shan  escape,"  retorted  Murray,  coldly. 

•  But  you  can't,"  said  Chivey,  with  a  grin  of  triumph,  even 
atke  groaned. 

There  was  something  in  his  manner  which  made  Murray 

hours  after  I'm  missing,"  gasped  Chivey, 
1  your  forgery  wfll  be  in  the  hands  of  the  police ;  they  can 
get  you  back  for  forgery,  and  while  you're  in  the  dock  of  the 
Old  Bafley,  if  not  before,  to  stand  your  trial  for  forgery,  they 
wffl  have  a  clue  to  my  murder." 

His  words  caused  Murray  a  singular  thrffl. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  that,  traitor?  "be  demanded. 

"  Mean  >  Why,  I  know  yon  too  well  to  trust  you.  I  teH 
yo*i  I  have  takpn  cvd  y  possible  precaution,  retorted  Chivey, 
«  so  that  you  are  safe  only  while  I  five,  I  know  my  man  too 


14  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

well  not  to  take  every  precaution.  Now,"  he  added,  sinking 
back  exhausted,  "  now,  my  young  sweet  and  pleasant,  fire 
away." 

Murray  paused,  and  concealed  his  pistol. 

Was  it  true  about  these  precautions  ? 

Chivey  was  vindictive  as  he  was  cunning. 

He  had  shown  this  in  every  action. 

"  Supposing  I  spare  you  ? "  said  Murray. 

"You  can't,"  retorted  the  tiger;  "I'm  done  for." 

"  So  much  the  better." 

"So  you  say  now,"  returned  Chivey,  his  voice  growing 
fainter  and  fainter.  "Wait  and  remember  my  words— I'll 
be  revenged." 

He  gasped  for  breath. 

Then  all  was  still 

Was  he  dead  ? 

Murray  trembled  with  fear  at  the  thought. 

The  words  of  the  revengeful  tiger  rang  in  his  ear. 

And  he  strode  away. 

Silent  and  moody  as  befits  one  bearing  the  brand  of  Cain. 


Chivey  was  far  from  being  as  badly  hurt  as  he  at  first 
appeared. 

He  had  no  bones  broken,  his  worst  injuries  being  a  few 
bruises  and  a  very  unpleasant  shaking. 

But  Chivey  was  artful. 

He  thought  it  best  to  keep  quiet  until  Herbert  Murray 
should  be  gone. 

Chivey  struggled  up  on  to  his  knees. 

Then  he  began  to  crawl  along  the  sand  pit. 

Progress  was  difficult  at  first. 

But  he   persevered  and  got  along  in  time. 

"  If  these  bruises  would  only  let  me  think  how  further  to 
act,"  he  muttered  to  himself,  as  groaning,  he  crawled  back 
to  the  town. 

"  Seftor  Velasquez,"  he  said  to  himself,  as  a  happy  thought 
crossed  him.  "  Senor  Velasquez  is  my  man  for  a  million." 

He  paused  to  think  over  the  ways  and  means,  and  a  cun- 
ning smile  deepened  on  his  face,  as  he  gradually  made  up  his 
mind. 

"  The  worst  of  this  is  that  I  must  have  a 
muttered  the  young  schemer. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  15 

"  No  matter,  there  is  only  one  way  out  of  it,  and  I  must 
make  the  best  of  it" 

Senor  Velasquez  was  an  obscure  notary. 

Chivey  had  made  a  chatting  acquaintance  with  the  notary 
in  the  town,  the  Spaniard  speaking  English  with  tolerable 
proficiency. 

"  What  is  the  nature  of  the  secret  you  hold  in  terrorem 
over  your  master  ? "  demanded  the  notary,  when  Chivey  at 
length  reached  his  office. 

Chivey  smiled. 

"  I  said  it  was  a  secret,  Mr.  Velasquez,"  he  answered. 

"  But  if  you  seek  my  advice  about  that,"  the  notary  made 
reply,  "  I  must  know  all  the  particulars  of  the  case." 

"Oh,  no." 

"  Oh,  yes." 

"Why?" 

"  How  can  I  advise  if  you  keep  me  in  the  dark  ?  " 

Chivey  leered  at  the  Spanish  notary  and  grinned. 

"  Don't  you  try  and  come  the  old  soldier  over  me,  please," 
be  said. 

"  Old  soldier  ?  "  said  Senor  Velasquez,  in  surprise. 

"  Yes." 

"  What  is  •  old  soldier  ? '    What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  " 

"  I  mean,  sir,  the  artful." 

"  Is  this  English  ? "  exclaimed  the  notary. 

«  Rather." 

"  Well,  I  confess  I  do  not  understand  it." 

"  Then,"  said  Chivey,  getting  quite  cheerful  as  he  warmed 
Into  the  matter,  **  I  think  your  English  education  has  been 
very  seriously  neglected,  that's  what  I  think." 

"  Possibly,"  said  the  Spaniard.  "  I  only  learnt  your 
tongue  as  a  student,  and  am  not  well  grounded  hi  slang." 

"  More's  the  pity." 

There  was  a  spice  of  contempt  in  Chivey's  tone  which 
appeared  rather  to  aggravate  Senor  Velasquez. 

"  You  are  too  clever,  Mr.  Chivey,"  said  he, u  far  too  clever. 
Now  you  want  to  keep  your  secret  and  I  shall  guess  that 
your  secret  concerns " 

He  paused. 

"Who?"  asked  Chivey. 

"  The  young  man  whose  letters  you  employed  me  to  inter* 
cept." 

The  tiger  looked  alarmed. 


l6  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"  I  mean  the  young  Senor  Jack  Harkaway." 

Chivey  looked  about  him  rather  anxiously. 

"  Don't  be  so  imprudent,  Senor  Velasquez,"  he  said. 
•*  You  are  a  precious  dangerous  party  to  have  any  thing  to 
do  with." 

"  Not  I,"  returned  Senor  Velasquez ;  "  I  am  easily  dealt 
with.  But  those  who  would  deal  with  me  must  not  be  too 
cunning." 

"  You  don't  find  nothing  of  that  sort  about  me,"  said 
Chivey. 

"  What  is  it  you  require  of  me  ?  "  demanded  the  notary, 
getting  vexed. 

"  He's  a  proud  old  cove,"  thought  the  tiger. 

So  he  drew  in  his  horns  and  met  the  notary  half  way. 

"  You  are  just  right,  Mr.  Velasquez,"  he  remarked.  "  It 
does  concern  Jack  Harkaway." 

"  I  knew  that." 

"  Now  I  want  you  to  give  me  your  promise  not  to  tell  what 
I  am  going  to  say  to  you,  nor  to  make  any  use  of  it  without 
my  express  permission." 

"  I  promise.     Now  proceed,  for  I  am  pressed  for  time." 

"  I  will,"  said  the  tiger,  resolutely. 

The  notary  produced  paper  and  writing  materials. 

"  My  master,  Mr.  Murray,  has  attempted  my  life,"  began 
Chivey,  "  and  this  is  because  I  am  possessed  of  certain 
secrets." 

"  I  see." 

"  He  is  at  the  present  moment  under  the  idea  that  he  has 
killed  me.  Now  what  I  want  is,  to  make  him  thoroughly 
understand  that  he  does  not  get  out  of  his  difficulty  by 
getting  me  out  of  the  way,  not  by  any  manner  of  means 
at  all." 

"  I  see." 

"  How  will  you  do  it  ? " 

"  I  will  go  and  see  him." 

Chivey  jumped  at  the  idea  immediately. 

"  Yes,  sir,  that's  the  sort ;  there's  no  letters  then  to  tell 
tales  against  us." 

"  None." 

"  Get  one  from  him,  though,  if  you  can,"  said  Chivey, 
eagerly  ;  "  something  compromising  him  yet  deeper,  like." 

"  I  will  do  it,"  said  Senor  Velasquez.  "  And  what  will  you 
pay  for  it  ?  Give  it  a  price." 


HIS  BOY  TTXfEJL  17 

'  Iliiily  pounds,    returned  Cturey,  m  a  f erensfa  *****  of 
iety. 
"Ill  doit,"  letnrned  the  notary,  with  great  coolness 

CHAPTER  1XIL 

HOW  SENOR  VELASOCEZ    PLATED  A  DEEP  GAME  WITH  CHIVE* 

WAT  MOST  BE  PUTT  AWAT  " A  GCILTT  COMPACT— CHTTET  US 

DtTKASGE  TILE— THE  SKX  ROOM  A3ED  "THE  OPIATE— AX  OVER- 
DOSE—THE     SfOTARr  S     GTJAMHAX— THE 


SEXOK  VELASQUEZ  was  any  thing  but  a  foot 

Chhrey  was  not  soft,  but  he  was  not  competent  to  cope 
with  sncfa  a  keen  spirit  as  this  Spanish  notary. 

Senor  Vdasowez  walked  up  to  the  botel  in  which  Herbert 
Moray  was  staying,  and  the  first  person  he  chanced  to  meet 
was  Murray  himself, 

**  I  wish  to  have  a  word  with  you  in  private,  Sector  Murray,** 
said  the  notary. 
T  looked 


amdonsly  around  him,    starting  tt 

-  * 


'  What  can  I  do  for  Senor  Velasquez  ?  "  he  Mkcd. 
I  begged  for  a  fewwtxdsin  private,"  answered  Vebs- 


"Take  a  seat,   Sefior  Velasquez," said  Herbert  Murray, 
and  now  tefl  me  bow  I  can  serve  you,"  after  entering  his 


The  notary  ™mfa  ttlim^fW  comfortable  in  hty 

44 1  can  speak  in  safety  now?  "  he  said. 

-Of  course." 

"  Ao  fear  of  uilotiii^jtjoo  here  ? 

The  notary  looked  Murray  steadily  in  the  eyes  as  be 

"  I  was  thinking  of  yourotficious  servant." 
Herbert  Mutiny  changed  coJour  as  he  faltered— 
-Of  whom?" 

I 


l8  YOUNG  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  There  is  no  fear  from  him  now,"  said  Murray,  with  avert* 
ed  eyes  ;  "  not  the  least  in  the  world." 

Senor  Velasquez  smiled  significantly. 

"  Your  man  Chivey,"  resumed  the  Spanish  notary,  "  has 
confided  to  me  a  secret." 

"Concerning  me?" 

"  Yes." 

"The  villain  !" 

"  Now  listen  to  me,  Senor  Murray.  You  have  behaved 
very  imprudently  indeed.  Your  whole  secret  is  with  me." 

Herbert  started. 

"  With  you  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

Herbert  Murray  glanced  anxiously  at  the  door. 

The  notary  followed  his  eyes  with  some  inward  anxiety, 
yet  he  did  not  betray  his  uneasiness  at  all. 

"  He  was  speaking  the  truth  for  once,  then,"  said  Murray. 
"  He  had  confided  his  secrets  to  someone  else." 

"  Yes." 

Herbert  Murray  walked  round  the  room,  and  took  up  his 
position  with  his  back  to  the  door. 

"  Senor  Velasquez,"  he  said,  in  a  low  but  determined  voice, 
"  you  have  made  an  unfortunate  admission.  If  there  is  a 
witness,  it  is  only  one  ;  you  are  that  witness,  and  your  life  is 
in  danger." 

The  notary  certainly  felt  uncomfortable,  but  he  was  too  old 
a  stager  to  display  it. 

Herbert  Murray  produced  a  pistol,  which  he  proceeded  to 
examine  and  to  cock  deliberately. 

"  That  would  not  advance  your  purpose  much,  Senor  Mur- 
ray," he  said,  coolly ;  "  the  noise  would  bring  all  the  house 
trooping  into  the  room." 

Murray  was  quite  calm  and  collected  now,  and  therefore 
he  was  open  to  reason. 

"  There  is  something  in  that,"  he  said,  "  so  I  have  a 
quieter  helpmate  here." 

He  uncocked  the  pistol  and  put  it  in  his  breast  pocket. 

Then  he  whipped  out  a  long  Spanish  stiletto. 

"  There  are  other  reasons  against  using  that." 

"  And  they  are  ?  " 

"  Here  is  one,"  returned  the  notary,  drawing  a  long,  slender 
blade  from  his  sleeve. 

Murray  was  palpably  disconcerted  at  this. 


fflS  BOY  T1XKER.  19 


The  «Tp«m>fi  notary  and  the  young  Fjigfahman  stood  €m> 
lag  each  other  in  silence  for  a  considerable  time. 
Thel 


former  was  the  fint  to  break  the 

"Now,  look  you  here,  Senor  Murray,"  said  he,  "I  am  not 
a  child,  nor  did  I,  knowing  all  1  know',  come  here  on  prepared 
for  everj  i  •KlMiMl  nji,  even  for  violence." 

-  Go  on,*  said  Murray,  between  his  set  teeth. 

"You  have  imprudently  placed  yourself  in  the  hands  of  an 

"I  have." 

-And  be  has  proved  himself  utterly  on  worthy  ?' 

"Utterly." 

"  AD  of  that  is  known  to  me,"  said  the  notary,  craftily. 
"Now  you  mm*  pay  no  heed  to  tfas  Chfrey.* 

*"  I  win  not,  returned  Herbert  Murray,  s^nificanny, 
"  though  there  is  little  fear  of  further  molestation  from  him, 


Young  Murray  tattle  dreamt  of  the  cause  of  the  notary's 

pff-niKar  smile. 

44  Your  sole  danger,  as  I  take  it,  Senor  Murray,  is  from 
your  fellow  countryman,  Jack  Harkaway." 

"  \  es. 

**  Then  to  him  von  must  M"^rJ  «vudt  attention.  Where  is 
ke?" 

-Gone.- 

"Whereto?" 

«  Don't  know." 

«I  do  then,"  returned  the  notary,  quiedy  :  -  and  it  is  to 
tell  you  that  that  I  am  here.  ^  I  have  all  the  necessary  m- 

0" 


"To  make  sure  of  him,"  coldly  repfied  the  Spaniard. 


v  elasouez  spoke  not. 

But  his  meaning  was  just  as  dear  as  if  be  had  pot  k  into 


A  vicious  d%  with  his  stiletto  at  the  air. 

Nothing  more. 

And  so  they  began  to  understand  each  other. 


Valesqnez,  die  notary,  was  playh  _ 
From  Herbert  Murray  he  carefnCy  kept 

±±:  Chivty  5^1  lived. 


20  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

And  why?" 

That  knowledge  would  have  lessened  his  hold. 

The  cunning  way  in  which  he  let  Herbert  Murray  under- 
stand that  he  knew  all,  even  to  the  attempt  upon  Chivey's 
life  at  the  gravel  pits,  completed  the  mastery  in  which  he 
meant  to  hold  the  young  rascal. 

He  arranged  every  thing  for  young  Murray. 

He  discovered  from  him  the  destination  of  the  ship  in 
which  Jack  Harkaway  and  his  friends  had  escaped,  and  he 
procured  him  a  berth  on  a  vessel  sailing  in  the  same  direc- 
tion. 

"Once  you  get  within  arm's  length  of  this  young  Hark- 
away,"  he  said;  "you  must  be  firm  and  let  your  blow  be 
sure." 

"  I  will,"  returned  his  pupil. 

"  Once  Harkaway  is  removed  from  your  path,  you  may 
sleep  in  peace,  for  he  alone  can  now  punish  you  for  forgery." 

"I  hope  so." 

"  I  know  it,"  said  Velasquez. 

So  well  were  the  notary's  plans  laid,  and  so  luckily  did 
fortune  play  into  his  hand's,  that  forty-eight  hours  after  his 
interview  with  Murray,  he  had  that  young  gentleman  safely 
on  board  a  ship  outward  bound. 

Now  Herbert  Murray  had  passed  but  one  night  after  that 
fearful  scene  by  the  gravel  pit,  but  the  remembrance  of  it 
haunted  his  pillow  from  the  moment  he  went  to  bed  to  the 
moment  he  arose  unrefreshed  and  full  of  fever. 

And  yet  he  was  setting  out  with  the  intention  of  securing 
his  future  peace  and  immunity  from  peril  by  the  commission 
of  a  fresh  crime. 

The  ship  was  setting  sail  at  a  little  after  daybreak,  and  it 
had  been  arranged  that  Sefior  Velasquez  was  to  come  and 
see  him  off. 

But  much  to  his  surprise,  the  notary  did  not  put  »n  an 
appearance. 

Eagerly  he  waited  for  the  ship  to  start,  lest  any  thing  should 
occur  at  the  eleventh  hour,  and  he  should  find  himself  laid 
by  the  heels  to  answer  for  his  crimes. 


Chivey  was  supposed  to  be  hiding. 

In  reality  he  was  a  prisoner  in  the  house  of  Sefior  Vales- 
quez,  and  he  knew  it. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  21 

The  notary  was  an  old  man,  and  he  suffered  from  sundry 
ailments  which  belong  to  age — notably  to  rheumatism. 

An  acute  attack  prostrated  the  old  man,  and  held  him 
down  when  he  was  most  anxious  to  be  up  and  doing. 

And  the  night  before  Herbert  Murray  was  to  set  sail,  he 
lay  groaning  and  moaning  with  racking  pains. 

His  cries  reached  Chivey,  who  lay  in  the  next  room,  and 
he  came  to  the  sick  man's  door  to  ask  if  he  could  be  of  any 
assistance. 

He  peered  warily  in. 

In  spite  of  his  groans  and  anguish,  the  old  notary  was 
insensible  under  the  influence  of  an  opiate. 

Chivey  crept  in. 

On  a  low  table  beside  the  bed  was  a  lamp  flickering  fear- 
fully, and  a  glass  containing  some  medicine. 

Beside  the  glass  a  phial  labelled  laudanum. 

Something  possessed  the  intruder  to  empty  the  contents 
of  the  phial  into  the  glass,  and  just  as  he  had  done  so,  the 
sufferer  opened  his  eyes. 

"  Who's  there  ?  " 

"  It's  me,  Sefior  Velasquez,"  said  the  tiger.  "You  have 
been  ill " 

"  What  do  you  do  here  ?  "  demanded  the  notary,  sharply. 

**  You  called  out.     I  thought  I  might  be  of  assistance." 

"  No,  no." 

"  Then  I  will  go,  senor,"  said  Chivey,  a  for  I  am  tired." 

u  Stay,  give  me  my  physic  before  you  go." 

Chivey  handed  him  the  glass. 

The  sick  man  gulped  it  down,  and  made  a  wry  face, 

"  How  bitter  it  tastes,"  he  said,  with  a  shudder. 

"  Good-night,  senor." 

"  Good-night." 


Chivey  did  not  remain  o 

The  heavy  breathing  of  die  notary  soon  told  him  that  it 
was  safe  to  return  to  the  room. 

The  business  of  the  morrow  so  filled  the  mind  of  the  old 
Spaniard,  that  he  was  talking  of  it  in  his  sleep. 

"  At  an  hour  after  daybreak,  I  tell  you,  Murray,"  he  mut- 
tered. "  The  berth  is  paid  for,  paid  'for  by  my  gold.  You 
follow  on  the  track  of  your  enemy  Harkaway,  and  once  you 
are  within  reach,  give  a  sharp,  sure  stroke,*  and  you  wflf  be 


2  2  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

free  from  your  only  enemy,  seeing  that  you  have  already 
taken  good  care  of  your  traitor  servant." 

Chivey  was  amazed,  electrified. 

Did  he  hear  aright  ? 

"  At  daybreak !  "  he  exclaimed,  aloud. 

"  Yes ;  at  daybreak,"  returned  the  notary  in  his  sleep. 

After  a  pause,  the  sleeper  muttered — 

"  What  say  you  ?  If  Chivey  were  not  quite  dead  ?  What  of 
that  ?  How  could  he  follow  you  ?  He  has  no  funds.  The 
only  money  he  possessed  I  have  now  in  my  strong  box  under 
my  bed." 

Chivey  was  staggered. 

"Is  Murray  going  to  bolt,  and  leave  me  in  the  power  of 
this  old  villain,  I  wonder,"  he  muttered. 

He  broke  off  in  his  speculations,  for  the  notary  was  bab- 
bling something  again. 

"  '  The  Mogador,'  "  muttered  the  old  man,  speaking  more 
thickly  than  before  as  the  opiate  began  to  make  itself  felt ; 
"  the  captain  is  called  Gonzales.  You  have  only  to  mention 
the  name  of  Senor  Velasquez,  and  he  will  treat  you  well.  He 
knows  me." 

He  muttered  a  few  more  words  which  grew  more  and  more 
incoherent  each  instant. 

Then  he  lay  back  motionless  as  a  log. 

The  opium  held  him  fast  in  its  power. 

"  Now  for  the  box,"  exclaimed  the  tiger,  excitedly. 

Chivey  tore  open  the  box,  and  lifting  up  some  musty  old 
deeds  and  parchments,  he  feasted  his  eyes  upon  a  mine  of 
wealth. 

A  pile  of  gold. 

Bright  glittering  pieces  of  every  size  and  country. 

And  beside  it  thick  bundles  of  paper  money. 

"  Gold  is  uncommonly  pretty,"  said  the  tiger, "  but  the  notes 
packs  the  closest." 

Bundle  after  bundle  he  stowed  away  about  his  person,  reg- 
ularly padding  his  chest  under  his  shirt. 

"  Now  for  a  trifle  of  loose  cash,"  he  said,  coolly, 

So  saying,  he  dropped  about  sixty  or  seventy  gold  pieces 
into  his  breeches  pocket. 

His  waistcoat  pockets  he  stuffed  full  also. 

Then  he  pushed  back  the  box  into  its  place  under  the  bed. 

"The  old  man  still  sleeps,"  he  said  to  himself,  looking 
round  at  the  bed. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER. 


He  was  in  a  rare  good  humour  with  himself. 
•Ha,  ha!    I  am  rich  now,"  said  Chivey.    «  Thank  you, 
old  senor,  you  have  done  me  a  good  turn.    May  you  sleep 

gave  a  final  glance  about  him  and  made  off. 


A  distant  church  clock  tolled  the  hoar  of  midnight  as  he 
gained  the  seashore. 

He  was  in  kick. 

Not  a  soul  did  he  encounter  until  he  reached  the  beach, 
when  be  came  upon  two  sailors,  launching  a  rowing  boat. 

"  •  Mogador  ?  '"  he  said,  in  a  tone  of  inquiry. 

"Si,  senor." 

"  Thar  s  your  sort,"  said  ChiTey.  "  I  want  to  see  Captain 
Gonzales." 

"Come  with  us,  then,"  said  one  of  the  sailors. 

"Rather."  responded  the  tiger;  «  off  we  dive;  whip  'em 
op,  tickle  him  under  the  flank,  and  we're  there  in  a  «•"•••«• 
canter." 

The  sailors  both  understood  a  little  of  English. 

In  very  little  time  they  were  •f«*^s"E  on  the  deck  of  die 


Mogador. 
And  facing  Chivey  as  he 

of  the  ship,  Captain  Connies,  to  whom  Chivey  was 


facing  Chivey  as  he  scrambled  up  the  side,  was  the 


presented  at  once  by  one  of  the  sailors. 

"  Senor  Velasquez  has  sent  me  to  yon,  captain,"  said  the 
ever  ready  tiger. 

"  Then  you  are  welcome." 

"He  told  me  to  give  you  that,"  said  Chivey,  handing  the 
captain  a  pair  of  banknotes  ;  **  and  to  beg  you  to  give  me  the 
best  of  accommodation  in  a  cabin  all  to  myself." 

"It  shall  be  done." 

"  And  above  afl  not  to  let  Mr.  Murray  know  of  my  pres- 
ence on  board  when  he  comes." 

"Good." 

"  I  am  going  on  very  important  business  for  Senor  Velas- 
quez, captain,"  pursued  Chivey,  with  infinite  assurance  ;  "  as 
you  may  judge,  for  he  values  your  care  of  me  at  one  hundred 
crowns  to  be  paid  on  your  next  visit  here." 

0  Rely  upon  my  uttermost  assistance." 

"Thank  you,"  said  Chivey,  with  a  patronising  smile;  "and 
now  IH  be  obtiged  to  you  to  show  me  to  my  berth." 


24  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"  Here,"  cried  the  Spanish  captain.  "  Pedro — Juan — Lo- 
pez. Take  this  gentleman  to  my  private  cabin." 

The  "  Mogador  "  stood  out  to  sea  bravely  enough. 

Chivey  was  there. 

Herbert  Murray  was  there. 

But  the  latter  little  suspected  the  presence  of  the  former. 

Herbert  Murray,  in  fancied  security,  was  reclining  on  deck 
upon  some  cushions  he  had  got  up  from  below,  smoking 
lazily,  and  looking  up  at  the  blue  sky  overhead,  when  Chivey, 
who  had  been  looking  vainly  out  for  an  appropriate  cue  to 
make  his  reappearance,  slipped  suddenly  forward,  and  touch- 
ing his  hat,  remarked  in  the  coolest  manner  in  the  world — 

"  Did  you  ring  for  me,  sir  ? " 

Herbert  looked  up  just  as  if  he  had  seen  a  ghost. 

"  Chivey ! " 

"  Guv'ner." 

Herbert  Murray  stared  at  his  villainous  servant. 

But  villainous  as  Chivey  was,  Herbert  Murray  never 
thought  a  bit  about  that. 

His  heart  leaped  to  his  mouth,  and  he  was  overjoyed  to 
find  him  there. 

"  Oh,  Chivey,  you  vagabond  !  "  he  ejaculated.  "  I'm  so 
awfully  glad  to  see  you." 

"  One  touch  of  nature  makes  the  whole  world  kin." 

There's  a  lot  of  truth  in  that  trite  and  homely  old  saying. 

For  one  little  phrase  from  the  guilty  Herbert  had  come  so 
straight  from  the  heart  that  even  the  villainous  tiger  was 
touched  immediately. 

"Look  here,  guv'nor,"  said  Mr.  Chivey,  "I  don't  think 
you  are  half  so  bad  as  I  thought.  My  opinion  is  that  you 
are  not  half  as  bad  as  some  of  'em,  and  that  the  ugly  job  up 
at  the  gravel  pits  was  all  of  my  provoking.  I  bear  no 
malice." 

"  You  don't ! "  exclaimed  his  master,  quite  overjoyed. 

"  Not  a  bit." 

"  Shake  hands." 

Chivey  obeyed. 

And  they  were  faster  friends  than  ever  after  that. 

But  what  about  Senor  Velasquez  ? 

What  about  all  their  compacts  with  the  villain  ? 

For  the  time  they  were  of  no  use  to  that  plotter,  whose 
plans  had,  up  to  the  present  time,  failed. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER. 


CHAPTER  LXIII. 

THE  ORPHAN  IS  PRESENTED  AT  COURT — IS  A  BIT  NERVOUS— 
LESSONS  IN  THE  TURKISH  LANGUAGE — MANNERS  AND  CUS- 
TOMS  THE  PASHA  OF  MANY  WIVES AN  OFFICIAL  PRESENT 

BOWSTRINGING AN  EXECUTION HORROR!   THE  ORPHAN'S 

PERIL,  AND  WHAT  CAME  OF  IT. 

HAVING  got  Chivey  and  his  master  together  again,  we  now 
travel  to  the  Turkish  coast  to  be  in  the  company  of  young 
Jack  and  his  friends. 

The  orphan  had  been  roused  from  his  slumbers  to  be 
presented  to  the  pasha  of  that  province. 

His  excellency  the  pasha  had  done  them  the  honour  to 
pay  them  a  visit  of  ceremony  on  board  ship,  and  was  seated 
in  great  state  surrounded  by  his  suite  in  the  best  saloon. 

After  the  chief  personages  on  board  had  been  presented, 
his  excellency  had,  according  to  Captain  Deering,  desired  to 
see  that  distinguished  personage,  Mr.  Figgins,  alias  the 
orphan. 

And  now  the  orphan  stood  trembling  outside  the  door  of 
the  saloon. 

"  In  you  go,  Mr.  Figgins,"  whispered  Captain  Deering. 

"  One  moment.** 

"  Nonsense." 

"  Just  a  word." 

"  Bah  ! "  said  the  captain,  with  a  grin ; "  you  aren't  going 
to  have  a  tooth  out.  In  with  you." 

He  opened  the  door,  gave  the  timorous  orphan  a  vigorous 
drive  behind,  and  Mr.  Figgins  stood  in  the  august  pre- 
sence. 

The  pasha  was  seated — it  would  be  irreverent  to  say 
squatted,  which  would  better  express  it — upon  a  cushion 
that  was,  as  Paddy  says,  hanging  up  on  the  floor. 

His  excellency  was  in  that  peculiar,  not  to  say  painful 
attitude,  which  less  agile  mortals  find  unattainable,  but  which 
appears  to  mean  true  rest  to  Turk  or  tailor. 

The  pasha  rejoiced  in  a  beard  of  enormous  dimensions,  a 
grizzled  dirt-coloured  beard  that  almost  touched  the  cushion 
upon  which  he  sat. 


26  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

A  turban  of  red  and  gold  silk  was  upon  his  venerable 
head. 

And  beside  his  excellency  upon  a  cushion  were  laid  his 
arms,  weapons  of  barbarous  make,  thought  the  orphan. 

A  scimitar,  curved  a  la  Saladin,  two  long-barrelled  pistols, 
with  jewelled  butts,  "  as  though  they  were  earrings  or  brace- 
lets, "  the  orphan  said  to  himself,  a  long  dagger  with  an  ivory 
hilt  and  sheath,  and  a  piece  of  cord. 

"  That's  to  tie  them  together  with,"  mentally  decided  the 
orphan.  "  One  might  as  well  travel  with  the  Woolwich 
Arsenal  or  the  armoury  from  the  Tower.  Barbarous  old 
beast.  " 

"  Now,"  said  Captain  Deering,  "  tuck  in  your  tuppenny, 
Mr.  Figgins ;  bow  as  low  as  you  can. " 

The  orphan  put  his  back  into  an  angle  of  forty-five  with 
his  legs. 

"  Lower." 

"  Ugh  !  " 

"  A  little  bit  more." 

"  Lower,"  said  Captain  Deering,  in  an  agonised  whisper. 
"  We  shall  all  be  bowstrung  if  his  excellency  thinks  us 
wanting  in  respect." 

The  orphan  thus  admonished  made  a  further  effort,  and 
over  he  went. 

Head  first  ! 

There  was  such  a  chattering,  such  horrible  sounds  going 
on,  as  Captain  Deering  scrambled  after  the  unfortunate 
orphan,  that  the  latter  thought  his  time  was  come. 

The  captain  dragged  him  to  his  feet,  however. 

Then  the  presentation  was  proceeded  with. 

"  His  Excellency  AH  Kungham  Ben  Nardbake,"  cried  a 
dignitary  standing  beside  the  pasha,  with  a  voice  like  a 
toastmaster. 

"  Good  gracious  me !  "  exclaimed  the  orphan,  "  all  that  ? " 

"  That's  not  half  of  it,"  said  Captain  Deering.  "  To  the 
faithful,  he  is  known  as  well  as  Sid  Ney  Ali  Ben  Lesters 
puar  Nasr  ed  Bowstrung  and  Strattford  Bustum." 

Mr.  Figgins  was  greatly  alarmed  at  this. 

"  Powerful  memories  his  godfathers  and  godmothers  must 
have  had,"  he  murmured. 

Beside  the  pasha  stood  an  official,  with  a  beard  of 
extraordinary  length. 

"Who's  that?" 


ffIS  BOY  TINKER.  27 

«*  Hush  ?  "  whispered  Deering ; "  don't  speak  so  loud." 

•*  Who  is  he  ?  "  again  asked  the  orphan,  sinking  his  voice. 

•*  The  one  with  the  beard  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  His  name  is  Whiska  Said  Mahmoud  Ben  Ross  Latreflle," 
returned  Deering. 

**  Dear,  dear  ! "  murmured  the  orphan,  in  despairing 
accents, "  I  shall  never " 

u  Ease  her,  stop  her  ! "  cried  a  familiar  voice  io  Mr. 
Figgins's  ear,  "  you've  got  it  in  a  knot." 

It  was  Nat  Cringle. 

All  was  hushed. 

The  bearded  official  looked  at  the  pasha,  who  nodded. 

Then  drawing  his  sword,  he  signed  to  two  of  his  men,  and 
Nat  Cringle,  looking  dreadfully  frightened,  was  bustled  off 
behind  a  curtain  which  had  been  rigged  up  across  the  saloon, 
just  at  the  pasha's  back. 

"  What  are  they  going  to  do  ?"  asked  the  orphan,  his 
teeth  chattering  in  alarm. 

Captain  Deering  was  so  much  affected  at  this  stage  of  the 
proceedings  that  he  covered  his  face  with  his  pocket-hand- 
kerchief. 

"Poor  Nat  I" 

"  What  is  it  ?"  faltered  Mr.  Figgins, faintly. 

«  Did  you  not  see  the  cord  taken  away  with  Nat?"  de- 
manded the  captain,  in  a  funereal  bass. 

"Ye-es." 

«  Then  hark." 

Mr.  Figgins  did  hark,  and  an  awful  sound  readied  him 
from  behind  the  curtain. 

It  was  more  like  the  expiring  groans  of  a  hapless  porker 
in  the  hands  of  a  ruthless  butcher,  than  any  thing  else  you 
could  compare  it  to. 

A  fatal  struggle  was  going  on  behind  the  curtain. 

Groans  and  dying  wails  were  heard  for  awhile. 

Awful  sounds. 

Then  all  was  stilL 

"  Oh,  what  is  it  ?  "  murmured  the  orphan,  in  distress. 

"  Squiziz  Wizen,  the  pasha's  executioner,  has  dealt  upon 
poor  Nat  Cringle." 

"  What  !"  gasped  Figgins. 

"  Bowstrung,"  returned  Captain  Deering. 

The  orphan  turned  faint. 


tS  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

Then  he  turned  to  the  door,  and  would  have  fled. 

"  Oh,  let  me  go  home,"  he  cried,  "  I  don't  feel  happy 
here." 

But  Deering  stayed  him. 

"  You  must  not  go,  Mr.  Figgins,"  whispered  Captain  Deer- 
ing. 

"  Why  not  ? " 

"  His  excellency  is  about  to  address  us." 

The  pasha  coughed. 

"  Quel  esivoirejeu  ?  "  demanded  his  excellency. 

"  What  does  he  say  ? "  asked  Figgins. 

"  Batta  pudn,"  continued  his  excellency,  with  a  gracious 
air ;  "  also  bono  Jonni." 

"  He  says  you  may  present  whatever  you  .have  brought," 
whispered  the  captain. 

"  I've  brought  nothing,"  returned  Mr.  Figgins. 

"  Nothing  ? " 

"  No  ;  I  forgot." 

"  Thoughtless  man,"  said  Captain  Deering.     "  Take  this.'* 

He  thrust  a  parcel  of  brown  paper  into  his  hands. 

"  What  shall  I  do  with  it  ? " 

"  Place  it  on  the  cushion  before  his  excellency." 

Mr.  Figgins  complied. 

"  Luciousosity,"  said  the  pasha,  looking  upon  the  offering 
greedily. 

Then  he  clapped  his  hands  vigorously  three  times. 

The  minister  appeared,  leading  two  veiled  ladies. 

The  pasha  made  some  remarks  in  his  own  language,  which 
Captain  Deering  was  commissioned  to  render  into  English. 

"  His  excellency,  recognising  your  generous  offering,"  said 
he, "  presents  you  with  the  choicest  gifts  of  his  seraglio,  two 
wives.  You  must  cherish  them  through  life." 

The  orphan's  countenance  fell  at  this. 

The  capital  punishment  of  poor  Nat  Cringle  was  as  nothing 
to  this. 

"  Tell  him  I'd  rather  not  take  two,"  he  whispered  to 
Deering. 

"  Why  not  ?  "  ejaculated  the  latter. 

"  I  wish  to  live  single." 

The  bearded  minister  approached,  leading  the  two  veiled 
beauties. 

"  Oh  !  oh,  dear,"  groaned  the  poor  orphan. 

He  placed  a  gloved  hand  of  each  upon  Mr.  Figgins's 
Shoulders. 


fffS  BOY  TINKER.  29 

Then,  upon  a  given  signal,  they  threw  their  arms  around 
the  orphan  and  hugged  him,  while  a  violent  cachinnatiorx 
was  heard. 

"  What  a  lovely  smile,"  said  Captain  Deering.  **  Did  you 
hear  it  ? " 

"  Oh  !     Please  don't,"  cried  the  orphan. 

He  struggled  to  get  free. 

But  the  beauties  of  the  seraglio  held  him  tight. 

The  orphan  grew  desperate,  and  jerked  himself  out  of 
their  clutches. 

But  in  the  tussle  down  he  flopped  en  the  ground  again, 

"  Infidel  dog  !  "  roared  the  pasha,  venting  his  wrath  in 
English,  "  barbarian  and  idolater,  thou  shall  die  !  " 

Thereupon,  Captain  Deering  dropped  down  beside  the 
orphan,  and  sued  for  mercy. 

"  Be  merciful,  O  great  prince !"  he  cried.  "  Have  pity  on 
your  humblest  slave.  His  heart  is  filled  with  gratitude." 

The  pasha  growled  some  reply  that  was  indistinct,  but 
which  to  the  startled  Figgins,  sounded  like  the  rumbling  of 
distant  thunder. 

"  Oh,  what  shall  I  do  ? "  moaned  the  orphan.  "  Oh, 
somebody  take  me  home." 

"  Silence,"  whispered  Captain  Deering.  "  Prostrate  your- 
self as  they  do.  Bury  your  face  and  be  silent,  until  his 
excellency  bids  you  rise.  He  may  then  overlook  it." 

Mr.  Figgins  scarce  dared  to  breathe. 

There  he  lay,  with  his  face  upon  the  ground,  humbly 
awaiting  the  stern  despot's  permission  to  move. 


He  waited  long — very  long. 

While  he  waited  thus,  a  strange  commotion  was  observed 
amongst  the  pasha's  suite. 

The  chief  officer  removed  his  turban  and  beard,  and — 
wonderful  to  relate  !— beneath  it  was  the  laughing  face  ot 
Harry  Girdwood. 

He  winked  at  his  august  master,  who  hurriedly  removed 
his  turban  and  beard  as  well. 

And  then  the  pasha  bore  a  marvellous  resemblance  to 
Jack  Harkaway  the  younger. 

They  helped'  to  drag  off  each  other's  robes— for  beneath 
their  Turkish  garments  were  their  everyday  clothes. 

The  veiled  beauties  of  the  harem  were  disrobed. 


30  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

Beneath  their  veils  and  feminine  attire  they  were  familiarly 
garbed,  and  a  glance  revealed  them  to  be  Tinker  and  his 
body-guard  Bogey. 

"  Now  then,  Mr.  Figgins,"  said  Nat  Cringle,  •*  wake 
up." 

The  orphan  looked  up  in  amazement  at  the  sound. 

"  Nat  Cringle  1 " 

"  Hullo  ! " 

Mr.  Figgins  looked  about  in  wonderment. 

Facing  him  was  Jack  Harkaway,  sitting  upon  a  camp  stool, 
and  beside  him  stood  his  constant  companion,  Harry  Gird- 
wood. 

Engaged  in  conversation  with  them  was  Captain  Deering, 
and  the  subject  of  their  conversation  appeared  to  be  the 
orphan  himself. 

The  Turkish  soldiers  and  people  generally  forming  the 
pasha's  suite  had  disappeared,  and  in  their  places  were  several 
sailors,  some  of  whom  appeared  to  be  considerably  amused 
at  something. 

When  Mr.  Figgins  sat  up  and  looked  about  him,  he 
muttered — 

"  What's  all  this  ? " 

"  A  very  serious  case,  Harry,"  said  Jack,  gravely. 

"  Very."  , 

"  A  case  for  the  doctor." 

«*  What  do  you  mean  ?" 

"These  habits  of  drinking  grow  upon  one,"  said  Harry 
Girdwood,  sadly. 

"  I  don't  understand,"  faltered  the  orphan. 

"  Shall  we  help  you  to  bed,  sir  ?  "  asked  one  of  the  sailors 
compassionately. 

"  Never ! "  cried  Mr.  Figgins,  with  majesty. 

"  Oh,  yes,  do,"  said  Harry. 

But  nerved  to  desperation,  the  orphan  tore  himself  away 
from  them,  and  darted  to  the  door. 

"  I  shall  go  and  report  upon  these  outrageous  doings  to 
the  captain  of  the  ship,"  he  said,  drawing  himself  up. 

"  Here's  the  captain  himself,"  said  a  good-natured  voice 
behind  him.  "  And  now,  what  can  he  do  for  you,  Mr.  Fig- 
gins?" 

The  orphan  turned. 

There  was  the  captain. 

44  Mr.  Figgins,"  said  the  captain,  with  a  serious  air,  and 


ffJS  BOY  TINKEJL  51 

shaking  his  forefinger  at  hiin,"  you  have  been  indulging  very 
earlv  in  the  day." 

-What?" 

He  could  endure  no  more. 

With  a  ay  of  disgust,  be  dashed  past  the  far**"*,  and 
scrambled  up  the  stairs  on  deck. 

Once  there,  he  shot  like  a  race  horse  along  the  deck,  and 
jaining  his  own  berth,  be  locked  himself  in. 

But  even  here  he  could  not  shut  out  the 
of  die  incorrigible  practical  jokers. 

Mr.  Figgins,  as  yon  may  guess,  was  seen  no  more  that  day. 


Upon  the  day  following  the  events  just  related,  Jack  re- 
cewed  If  fir-1  %  from  home. 

And  among  them  was  one  which  created  no  litrie  excite* 
Bent  amungAl  the  nearest  friends  of  Jack  Harkaway. 

" Do  vou  think  it  probable  that  hell  come?" 

"  I  shouldn't  wonder,"  said  Harry  Girdwood. 

•I  should  like  to  see  his  dear  old  face  again,1*  said  Jack. 

•  IH  bet  a  penny  that  we  shaH  see  him  here  yet ;  if  not  hoe, 
at  least  at  our  next  stage,"  said  Harry. 

"It  would  be  a  rare  treat  to  talk  with  someone  who  had 
»een  our  dear  folks  at  home." 

"It  would  indeed.     I  hope  be  wffl  come." 

And  who  did  they  hope  would  come? 

Can  you  not  guess  reader?    No. 

Then  read  on,  and  yon  will  learn  who  it  was  and  what  were 
the  reasons  which  vuc  to  btiug  a  fnend  Ciuuk  home  roaming 
to  this  distant  shore  to  meet  Jack  and  his  friends. 


CHAPTER  LXTV. 

THE  SAHKBT    DOCTOR     MTGGDCS    CAME    IX    HASTE — DfPEDI- 

yasrrs  tst  THE  WAT  OF  THE  PMsauFnox— DWELLS  os 


READER,  we  will  return  for  a  Btde  time  to  oar  old  friend. 
Mole,in'     * 
Ht. 


32  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

For  so  many  years  of  his  life  had  old  Isaac  Mole  led  a 
wandering  career,  that  he  found  it  exceedingly  difficult,  not 
to  say  irksome,  to  settle  down  to  the  prosy  existence  which 
they  had  all  dropped  into. 

He  never  complained,  it  is  true. 

But  he  fell  into  a  sort  of  settled  melancholy,  which  nothing 
could  shake  off,  and  even  grew  neglectful  of  the  bottle. 

His  friends  grew  anxious. 

They  wished  him  to  take  medical  advice. 

He  resisted  all  persuasion  stoutly. 

So  they  had  recourse  to  artifice,  and  invited  an  eminent 
medical  man  to  their  house  as  a  visitor. 

And  then  under  the  guise  of  a  friendly  chat,  the  doctor  took 
his  observations. 

But  the  peculiar  ailment,  if  ailment  it  could  be  called,  of 
Isaac  Mole,  completely  baffled  the  man  of  science  at  first. 

It  was  only  in  a  casual  conversation  that,  being  an  observ- 
ing man,  he  discovered  the  real  truth. 

"  Our  patient  wants  a  roving  commission,"  said  the  phy- 
sician to  himself. 

And  then  he  communicated  his  own  convictions  to  old 
Jack. 

"  I  scarcely  believe  it  possible,  doctor,"  said  Jack. 

But  the  doctor  was  positive. 

"  Nothing  will  do  him  any  good  but  to  get  on  the  move  ; 
I'm  as  sure  of  that  as  I  am  that  he  has  no  physical  ailment." 

"  What's  to  be  done  then  ?  "  demanded  Harkaway.  "  He 
can't  travel  alone." 

"  I  don't  know  that,"  said  the  doctor ;  "  he's  hale  and  wiry- 
enough.  The  only  difficulty  that  I  can  see,  is  Mrs.  Mole." 

"  I'll  undertake  to  get  over  that,"  said  Jack. 

"  You  will  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  It  is  settled  then,"  said  the  physician,  with  a  smile. 

"  Good." 

"  What  would  do  him  more  good  than  all  the  physic  in  the 
world,  would  be  to  send  him  after  your  son." 

"  My  Jack  !  " 

«  Yes." 

"  Impossible.     Why,  Jack  is  en  route  for  Turkey." 

"  What  of  that  ?  "  coolly  inquired  the  doctor. 

"  Consider  the  distance,  my  dear  doctor." 

**  Pshaw,  sir.     Distance  is  nothing  nowadays.     It  was   a 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  33 

way  different  thing  when  I  was  a  boy.    Take  my  word  for  it, 
Mr.  Harkaway,  our  patient  will  jump  at  the  dunce." 
"  He's  very  much  iHilJHfc**!  to  my  roving  boy." 

•  I  know  it,"  returned  the  doctor.    *  Never  a  day  |HiM| 
bat  be  speaks  of  him ;  I  declare  that  I  never  had  a  single  in- 
terview with  Mr.  Mote,  but  that  he  has  managed  somehow  to 
torn  the 

"Oh,  Jack,  he  has 
"Yes,' 
father,  by  all 
-Ahem!" 

•  And  vet  I  reaUv  befieve  that  be  en  joys  die  lecoDectkm  of 
the  boy's  infamous*  practka]  jokes." 

"I  befieve  you  are  right," responded  Harkaway. 

A  day  or  two  later  on  the  Anil  •  Migrated  with  Mr.  Mole. 

"Mr.  Mote." 

"Doctor.- 

•  Your  health  must  be  looked  to.    You'll  have  to  travel" 

•  How,  doctor?  "  said  Mote. 

"  Young  Harkaway  is  in  foreign  parts,  and  his  prolonged 
*hvnc»  ctmrv  his  parents  considerable  uneasiness,  •ndjou 
must  go  and  look  after  him." 

Mote's  eyes  twinkkd. 

•Do  you  mean  it?0 

"Ida.    When  would  yon  like  to  start?" 

"To-day." 

•Very  good.    The  sooner  the  better,"  said  the  < 

•\rr     -%J_l_t_   ,  .^_-^tl—  ^JI    .  ..iliL.ila 

.MX.  j*o*e  s  <^MiiiiciianfTp  leu  suddenly. 
An  ngry  dionght  crossed  him. 
What  would  Mrs. 
"There  is 

What  might  that  be?"  demanded  the  doctor. 
1  My  wife  might  have  a  word  to  say  upon  the  subject.'* 
'I  wffl  undertake  to  remove  her  scruples,-  said  the  doctor. 
'Youwfll?" 

Yes.    She  wfll  never  object  when  she  knows  bow  im- 


portant  your  i 

-D«**,-  exclaimed   Mr.  Mole,  joyously;  -you 


A  delay  n 
Mr.  Mote 


occuned,  however. 


turar 

Mr.  Mote  could  not  travel  with  his  wooden  stumps,  his 
friends  one  and  all  agreed. 
3 


34  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

No. 

He  must  have  a  pair  of  cork  legs  made. 

The  doctor  who  had  been  attending  our  old  friend  knew 
of  a  maker  of  artificial  limbs  who  was  a  wonderful  man, 
according  to  all  accounts. 

"Yes,"  said  Mole,  **cork  legs  well  hosed  will " 

At  this  moment  a  voice  tuning  up  under  the  window  cut 
him  short. 

"  He  gave  his  own  leg  to  the  undertaker, 


And  sent  for  a  skilful  cork-leg  maker. 

Ritooral  looral." 

"  That's  Dick  Harvey.     Infamous  !  "  ejaculated  Mr.  Mole. 

"  On  a  brace  of  broomsticks  never  I'll  walk, 
But  I'll  have  symmetrical  limbs  of  cork. 
Ritooral  looral." 

"  Monstrous  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole ;  "  close  the  window, 
sir,  if  you  please." 

It  was  all  very  well  to  say  "  Close  it,"  but  this  was  easier 
said  than  done. 

Dick  Harvey  had  fixed  it  beyond  the  skill  of  that  skilful 
mechanician  to  unfasten. 

The  aggravating  minstrel  continued  without — 

«'  Than  timber  this  cork  is  better  by  half, 
Examine  likewise  my  elegant  calf. 

Ritooral  looral " 

"  I  will  have  that  window  closed,"  cried  Mole. 

He  arose,  forgetting  in  his  haste  that  he  was  minus  one 
leg,  and  down  he  rolled. 

The  artificial  limb-maker  lunged  after  him,  and  succeeded 
with  infinite  difficulty  in  getting  him  on  to  his  feet  again. 

"  Dear,  dear ! "  said  Mr.  Mole.  "  No  matter,  I  can  manage 
it." 

He  picked  up  the  nearest  object  to  hand,  and  hurled  it 
out  of  window. 


BIS  BOY  TINKER.  35 

CHAPTER  LXY. 

HOW  THE  ORPHAN  BECAME  POSSESSED  OF  A  FLUTE, 

Bur  «-e  must  leave  Mole  for  a  time,  and  return  to  our 
friends  on  their  travels. 

When  next  they  landed  at  a  Turkish  town,  Mr.  Figgins 
went  to  a  different  hotel  to  that  patronised  by  young  Jack, 
whose  practical  joking  was  rather  too  much  for  the  orphan. 

Bat  they  found  him  out,  and  paid  him  a  visit  one  morn- 
ing. 

After  the  first  greeting,  Mr.  Figgins  was  observed  to  be 
unusually  thoughtful. 

At  length,  after  a  long  silence  he  exclaimed — 

"  I  can't  account  for  it,  I  really  can't." 

"  What  can't  you  account  for,  Mr.  Figgins  ?  *  asked  young 
Jack. 

"  The  strange  manners  of  the  people  of  this  country," 
answered  the  orphan. 

**  Of  what  is  it  you  have  to  complain  particularly  ?  "  inquired 
Jack. 

"  Well,  it's  this ;  wherever  I  go,  I  seem  to  be  quite  an 
object  of  curiosity." 

"Of  interest  you  mean,  Mr.  Figgins,"  returned  Jack, 
winking  at  Harry  Girdwood ;  "  you  are  an  Englishman,  you 
know,  and  Englishmen  are  always  very  interesting  to  for- 
eigners." 

"  I  can't  say  as  to  that,"  tie  orphan  replied ;  **  I  only  know 
I  can't  show  my  nose  out  of  doors  without  being  pointed  at." 

"Ah,  yes.  You  excite  interest  the  moment  you  make 
your  appearance." 

"Then,  if  I  walk  in  the  streets,  dark  swarthy  men  stare  at 
me  and  follow  me  till  I  have  quite  a  crowd  at  my  heels.** 

"  Another  proof  of  the  interest  they  take  in  you." 

"  Well,  I  don't  like  it  at  all,"  said  the  orphan,  fretfully; 
"and  then  the  dogs  bark  at  me  in  a  very  distressing  manner." 

"It's  the  only  way  they  have  of  bidding  you  welcome," 
remarked  Harry  Girdwood. 

"  I  wish  they  wouldn't  take  any  notice  of  me  at  all ;  it's  a 
nuisance." 


36  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"  Perhaps  you'd  like  them  to  leave  off  barking,  and  take 
to  biting  ? " 

"N"o,  it's  just  what  I  shouldn't  like,  but  it's  what  I'm 
constantly  afraid  they  will  do,"  wailed  the  poor  orphan. 

There  was  a  slight  pause,  during  which  young  Jack  and 
his  comrade  grinned  quietly  at  each  other,  and  presently  the 
former  said — 

"  I  think  I  can  account  for  all  this." 

"  Can  you  ? "  asked  Mr.  Figgins.     "  How  ?  " 

"  It  all  lies  in  the  dress  you  wear." 

"  In  the  dress  ? " 

"  Yes  ;  you  are  in  a  Turkish  country,  and  although  I  admit 
you  look  well  in  your  splendid  new  tourist  suit,  cross-barred 
all  over  in  four  colours,  I  fancy  it  would  be  better  if  you 
dressed  as  a  Turk  during  your  stay  here." 

"A  Turk,  Jack?" 

"  Yes ;  now,  if  you  were  to  have  your  head  shaved,  and 
dress  yourself  like  a  Turk,"  said  Jack,  "  all  this  wonderment 
would  cease,  and  you  would  go  out,  and  come  in,  without 
exciting  any  remark." 

Mr.  Figgins  fell  back  in  his  chair. 

"  Ha-ha-have  my  head  sha-a-ved,  dress  myself  up  li-like  a 
Turk  ? "  he  gasped.  "  You  surely  don't  mean  that  ? " 

"  I  do,  indeed,"  replied  Jack,  seriously. 

"What  ?  Wear  baggy  breeches,  and  an  enormous  turban, 
and  slippers  turned  up  at  the  toes  !  What  would  the  natives 
say  ?  " 

"Why,  they'd  say  you  were  a  very  sensible  individual," 
remarked  Harry.  "  Don't  you  remember  the  old  say- 
ing ? — '  When  you're  in  Turkey,  you  must  do  as  Turkey 
does.' " 

Mr.  Figgins  reflected  for  a  moment. 

"  And  you  really  think  if  I  were  to  go  in  for  a  regular 
Turkish  fit-out,  I  should  be  allowed  to  enjoy  my  walks  in 
peace  ?  "  he  asked,  at  length. 

"  Decidedly,"  answered  his  counsellors,  with  the  utmost 
gravity. 

"Then  I'll  take  your  advice,  and  be  a  Turk  until  further 
notice,  "  said  the  orphan  ;  "  but  there's  one  thing  still." 

"  What's  that  ?  " 

"  My  complexion  isn't  near  dark  enough  for  one  of  these 
infidels." 

"  Oh,  that  won't  matter,"  said  Jack ;  "  only  slip  into  the 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  37 

Turkish  togs.  Go  in  for  any  quantity  of  turban,  and  chey 
won't  care  a  button  about  your  complexion." 

"  Very  well,  then,  that's  settled ;  111  turn  Turk  at  once. 
But  must  I  have  my  head  shaved  ?  " 

"  That's  important,"  said  Jack. 

Having  made  up  his  mind  on  that  point,  the  orphan  at 
once  put  on  his  hat,  and  taking  a  sip  of  brandy  to  compose 
his  nerves,  he  sallied  forth,  directing  his  steps  to  the  near- 
est barber's. 

On  his  way  thither  he  attracted  the  usual  amount  of  at- 
tention, and  when  he  reached  the  barber's  shop,  he  found 
himself  accompanied  by  a  select  crowd  of  deriding  Turks, 
and  a  dozen  or  so  of  yelping  curs,  shouting  and  barking  in 
concert. 

The  barber  received  him  with  the  extreme  of  Eastern 
courtesy. 

'•What  does  the  English  signer  require  at  the  hands 
of  the  humblest  of  his  slaves  ? "  was  the  deferential  in- 


quiry. 


have  a  fancy  to  turn  Turk,  and  I  want  my  head 
shaved,"  explained  Mr.  Figgins,  nervously ;  "  pray  be  care- 
ful, since  I'm  only  a  poor  orphan,  who " 

Before  he  had  time  to  finish  his  sentence,  he  found  him- 
self wedged  into  a  chair  with  a  towel  under  his  chin. 

The  next  moment  his  head,  under  the  energetic  manipula- 
tion of  the  operator,  was  a  creamy  mass  of  lather. 

"Be  sure  and  don't  cut  my  head  off."  murmured  the 
orphan,  as  he  watched  the  razor  flashing  to  and  fro  along 
the  strop. 

"Your  servant  will  not  disturb  the  minutest  pimple,"  said 
the  barber. 

With  wonderful  celerity,  the  artist  went  to  work. 

In  less  than  two  minutes  the  cranium  of  Mark  Antony 
Figgins  was  as  smooth  and  destitute  of  hair  as  a  bladder  of 
lard. 

Then  followed  the  process  of  shampooing,  which  was 
very  soothing  to  the  orphan's  feelings. 

At  length,  the  operation  being  completed,  the  barber  bade 
tiie  orphan  put  on  his  hat — which  from  the  loss  of  his 
hair  went  over  his  eyes  and  rested  on  his  nose — and  left  the 
shop. 

His  friends— the  mob  and  the  dogs— had  waited  for  him 
outside  very  patiently. 


38  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

If  his  appearance  had  been  interesting  before,  their  in- 
terest was  now  greatly  increased. 

A  loud  shout  welcomed  him,  and  he  proceeded  along  the 
street  under  difficulties,  holding  his  hat  in  one  hand,  with 
the  crowd  at  his  heels. 

Straight  to  the  bazaar  he  went. 

Here  he  found  a  venerable  old  Turkish  Jew,  who  seemed 
to  divine  by  instinct  what  he  wanted. 

"  Closhe,  shignor,  closhe,"  he  cried  in  broken  English. 
"  Shtep  in  and  take  your  choice." 

Before  the  bewildered  orphan  knew  where  he  was,  he 
found  himself  in  the  interior  of  Ibrahim's  emporium. 

Here  a  profusion  of  garments  were  displayed  before  his 
eyes. 

Having  no  preference  for  any  particular  colour,  he  took 
what  the  Jew  pressed  upon  him. 

In  a  short  time  his  costume  was  complete,  consisting  of  a 
pair  of  ample  white  trousers,  and  a  blue  shirt,  surmounted 
by  a  crimson  vest,  secured  at  the  waist  by  a  purple  sash,  and 
on  his  feet  a  pair  of  yellow  slippers  of  Morocco  leather. 

The  turban  alone  was"  wanting. 

"  Be  sure  and  let  me  have  a  good  big  turban,"  urged  Mr. 
Figgins. 

Ibrahim  assured  him  that  he  should  have  one  as  big  as  he 
could  carry,  and  he  kept  his  word. 

Unrolling  a  great  many  yards  of  stuff,  he  formed  a  turban 
of  enormous  dimensions  of  green  and  yellow  stripe,  which 
he  placed  upon  the  head  of  his  customer. 

"  Shall  I  do  ?  Do  I  look  like  a  native  Turk  ? "  asked  the 
Batter,  after  he  had  put  on  his  things. 

"  Do  ? "  echoed  the  Jew,  exultingly.  "  If  it  ish  true  dat 
de  closhe  makes  de  man,  you  vill  do  excellent  veil,  and  de 
people  vill  not  now  run  after  you." 

Mr.  Figgins  having  settled  his  account  with  the  Hebrew 
clothier,  and  paid  just  three  times  as  much  as  he  ought  to 
have  done,  went  out  again  with  considerable  confidence, 
looking  as  gaudy  in  his  mixture  of  bright  colours  as  a 
macaw. 

"  No  one  will  dare  to  jeer  at  me  now,"  he  persuaded  him- 
self. 

But  he  was  mistaken. 

Hardly  had  he  taken  a  half  dozen  steps  when  his  brilliant 
costume  attracted  great  notice. 


ffIS  BOY  TINKER.  39 

"What  a  splendid  Turk! "  cried  some. 

"  Who  is  that  magnificent  bashaw  ?"  asked  others,  as  he 
strutted  past. 

No  one  knew,  and  upon  a  nearer  examination  it  was  seen 
that  the  "  splendid  Turk  "  and  "  magnificent  bashaw  "  was 
no  Turk  at  alL 

Indignation  seized  upon  those  who  had  a  moment  before 
been  filled  with  admiration. 

"Impostor,  unbelieving  dog!"  shouted  the  enraged 
populace.  "He  is  an  accursed  Giaour,  in  the  dress  of  a 
follower  of  the  Prophet." 

At  this,  a  fierce  yell  rose  upon  the  air. 

"  Down  with  the  wretch  !  ** 

"Tear  him  to  pieces! " 

**  Let  him  be  impaled  !  "  cried  the  multitude. 

With  these  dire  threats,  the  angry  crowd  rushed  UMUudt. 
Mr.  Figgins.  headed  by  a  short,  fat  Turk,  who  was  particu- 
larly indignant. 

The  luckless  orphan,  anxious  to  avoid  the  terrible  doom 
that  was  threatening  him,  rushed  away  in  an  opposite 
direction. 

The  Turks  are  not,  as  a  role,  remarkable  for  swift  run- 
ning. 

Mr.  Figgins,  whose  pace  was  quickened  by  the  dreadful 
prospect  of  a  stake  through  his  body,  would  have  easily 
distanced  them. 

But  unfortunately,  his  green  and  yellow  striped  turban,  dis- 
lodged from  its  position,  fell — as  his  hat  had  previously 
done — over  his  eyes,  and  almost  smothered  him. 

He  tagged  away  at  it  as  he  ran,  in  order  to  get  rid  of  it. 

But  all  he  succeeded  in  doing  was  to  loosen  one  of  the 
ends. 

Gradually  the  turban  began  to  unwind  itself,  the  end 
trailing  on  the  ground. 

The  Turk  in  pursuit  caught  up  this  end.  and  grasping  it 
firmly,  brought  all  his  weight  to  bear  upon  the  fugitive. 

Suddenly  the  hapless  Figgins  began  to  feel  strong  symp- 
toms of  strangulation. 

The  next  moment,  a  sharp  jerk  from  the  burly  Turk 
pulled  him  to  the  ground. 

But  this  saved  him. 

No  sooner  was  he  prostrate  on  his  back  than  tile  turban 
slipped  from  his  head,  and  he  was  free. 


40  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

Springing  to  his  feet,  he  darted  off  at  a  speed  which  no 
human  grocer  could  ever  have  dreamt  of. 

He  was  soon  far  beyond  pursuit. 

All  he  had  lost  was  his  green  and  yellow  striped  turban. 

But  the  loss  of  that,  though  it  somewhat  fretted  him,  had 
saved  his  life. 

He  found  himself  in  a  retired  spot,  and  no  one  being  near, 
he  sat  down  to  reflect  and  recover  his  breath. 

"  What  a  country  this  is,"  he  thought ;  "  pleasant  enough, 
though,  as  far  as  the  climate  goes  ;  but  the  people  in  it  are 
awful !  What  a  lot  of  bloodthirsty,  bilious-looking  wretches, 
to  be  sure ;  ready  to  consign  to  torture  and  death  a  poor 
innocent,  unprotected  orphan  because  he  happens  to  be  of 
a  different  colour  from  themselves  !  " 

So  perturbed  were  the  thoughts  of  Mr.  Figgins  that  he 
was  obliged  to  smoke  a  cigar  to  soothe  himself. 

But  even  this  failed  to  quiet  his  agitated  nerves. 

His  mind  was  full  of  gloomy  apprehensions. 

"  Where  am  I  ?  "  he  asked  himself.  "  How  am  I  to  get 
home  ?  I  shall  be  sure  to  meet  some  of  the  rabble,  and  with 
them  and  the  dogs  I  shall  be  torn  to  pieces.  What  will  be- 
come of  me — wretched  orphan  that  I  am !  What  shall  I 
do?" 

Hardly  had  he  uttered  these  distressful  exclamations  when 
a  prolonged  note  of  melody  caught  his  ear. 

"Hark!  "he  said  to  himself,  "  there  is  music.  'Music 
hath  charms  to  soothe  the  savage  breast,'  says  the  poet,  and  it 
seems  to  have  a  soothing  effect  upon  my  nerves." 

The  strain  had  died  away,  and  was  heard  no  longer. 

Mark  Antony  Figgins  was  in  despair. 

"  Play  again,  sweet  instrument,"  he  cried,  anxiously,  "  play 
again." 

Again  the  sweet  note  sounded  and  again  the  solitary 
orphan  felt  comforted. 

"  It's  a  flute  ;  it  must  be  a  flute,"  he  murmured  to  himself, 
as  he  listened.  "  I  always  liked  the  flute.  It's  so  soft  and 
melancholy." 

The  grocer  had  a  faint  recollection  of  his  boyhood's  days, 
when  he  had  been  a  tolerably  efficient  performer  on  a  penny 
whistle. 

Just  at  this  moment  the  mournful  note  he  heard  recalled 
the  past  vividly. 

So  vividly,  that  Mr.  Figgins,  in  the  depths  of  his  loneli- 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  41 

ness,  fixed  his  eyes  sadly  on  the  tumed-up  toes  of  his  leather 
slippers,  and  wept. 

As  the  melody  proceeded,  so  did  the  drops  pour  more 
copiously  from  the  orphan's  eyes. 

And  no  wonder,  for  of  all  the  doleful  too-tooings  ever 
uttered  by  wind  instrument,  this  was  the  dolefullest 

But  it  suited  Mr.  Figgin's  mood  at  that  moment. 

"  It's  a  Turkish  flute,  I  suppose,"  he  sobbed  ;  "  but  it's  very 
beau-u-u-tiful.  I  wish  I  had  a  flute." 

He  got  up  and  looked  round,  and  found  himself  outside 
\n  enclosure  of  thick  trees. 

It  was  evidently  within  this  enclosure  the  flute  player  was 
located. 

As  the  reader  knows,  there  was  nothing  bold  or  daring 
about  Mark  Antony  Figgins. 

But  now  the  flute  seemed  to  have  inspired  him  with  a  kind 
of  supernatural  recklessness. 

"  I'd  give  almost  any  thing  for  that  flute,"  he  murmured  to 
himself.  "  I  feel  that  I  should  like  to  play  the  flute.  I 
wonder  who  it  is  playing  it,  and  whether  he'd  sell  it  ?  " 

The  unseen  performer,  at  this  juncture,  burst  forth  into 
such  a  powerfully  shrill  cadence  that  the  orphan  was  quite 
thrilled  with  delight 

"  A  railway  whistle's  a  fool  to  it !  "  he  cried,  as  he  clapped 
his  hands  in  'ecstasy.  "  Bravo,  bravo  !  Encore ! " 

Having  shouted  his  applause  till  he  was  hoarse,  he  walked 
along  by  the  side  of  the  wall,  seeking  anxiously  for  some 
place  of  entrance. 

At  length  he  came  to  an  open  gate. 

A  stout  gentleman — unmistakably  a  Turk — with  a  crimson 
cap  on  his  head,  ornamented  with  a  tassel,  and  a  long,  reed- 
like  instrument  in  his  hand,  was  looking  cautiously  forth. 

.It  was  evidently  the  musician,  who,  having  been  inter- 
rupted in  his  solo,  had  come  to  see  who  the  delinquent  was 
that  had  disturbed  him. 

The  enthusiastic  Figgins  had  caught  sight  of  the  flute, 
and  that  was  sufficient. 

Forgetting  his  usual  nervous  timidity,  he  rushed  forward. 

"  My  dear  sir,"  he  exclaimed, "  it  was  exquisite — delicious ! 
Pray  oblige  me  with  another  tune— or,  if  you  have  no  objec- 
tion', let  me  attempt  one." 

As  he  spoke,  the  excited  Figgins  stretched  forth  both  his 
hands. 


42  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  ANL 

The  owner  of  the  flute,  who  evidently  suspected  an  attempt 
at  robbery,  quietly  placed  his  instrument  behind  him,  and 
looking  hard  at  Figgins,  said  sternly — 

"  What  son  of  a  dog  art  thou  ?  "  ' 

To  which  Figgins  replied  mildly — 

"  You're  mistaken,  my  dear  sir ;  I'm  the  son  of  my  father 
and  mother,  but  they — alas ! — are  no  more,  and  I  am  now 
only  a  poor  desolate  orphan." 

The  tears  trickled  from  his  eyes  as  he  spoke. 

The  Turk  did  not  appear  in  the  least  affected. 

"  What  bosh  is  all  this  ? "  he  asked,  after  a  moment,  in  a 
hard,  unsympathetic  tone. 

"  It's  no  bosh  at  all,  I  assure  you,  my  dear  signer,"  replied 
Figgins,  earnestly ;  "  the  fact  is,  I  heard  you  play  on  your 
flute,  and  its  sweet  tones  so  soothed  my  spirits — which  are 
at  this  moment  extremely  low — that  I  am  come  to  make  sev- 
eral requests." 

"  Umph  ! "  growled  the  Turk ;  "  what  are  they  ?  " 

"  First,  that  you  will  play  me  another  of  your  charming  airs, 
next,  that  you  will  allow  me  to  attempt  one  myself,  and 
thirdly,  that  you  will  sell  me  the  instrument  you  hold  in  your 
hand." 

The  Turk  glared  for  a  moment  fiercely  at  the  proposer  of 
these  modest  requests,  and  then  politely  wishing  the  graves 
of  his  departed  relatives  might  be  perpetually  defiled,  he  re- 
plied curtly — 

"  First,  I  am  not  going  to  play  any  more  to-night ;  next,  I 
will  see  you  in  Jehanum*  before  I  allow  you  to  play  ;  and 
thirdly,  I  won't  sell  my  flute." 

With  these  words,  he  stepped  back  into  the  garden  and 
slammed  the  gate  in  Mr.  Figgins'  face. 

"  I  shall  never  get  over  this,"  Figgins  murmured  to  him- 
self, gloomily ;  "that  flute  would  have  cheered  my  solitary 
hours,  and  that  ruthless  Turk  refuses  to  part  with  it.  Now, 
indeed,  I  feel  my  peace  of  mind  is  gone  forever." 

His  grief  at  this  juncture  became  so  overpowering,  that 
he  leant  against  the  door,  and  in  his  despair  hammered  it 
with  his  head. 

Suddenly  the  door  burst  open,  and  the  distressed  orphan, 
in  all  his  brilliant  array,  shot  backwards  into  some  shrubs 
of  a  prickly  nature,  whose  sharp  thorns  added  to  his  ago- 
nizing sensations. 

*  The  abode  of  lost  spirits. 


I/IS  BOY  TINKER.  43 

"  Will  anybody  be  kind  enough  to  put  an  end  to  my  mis- 
ery  ?  "  he  wailed,  as  he  lay  on  his  back,  feeling  as  though  he 
had  been  transformed  into  a  human  pincushion. 

He  was  not  a  little  surprised  to  hear  a  familiar  voice 
exclaim — 

"  Lor'  bless  me  !  dat  you,  Massa  Figgins  ?  " 

Glancing  up,  he  espied  the  black  face  of  Bogey  looking 
down  upon  him. 

"  Yes,  it's  me,"  he  answered,  in  a  wailing  tone ;  "  help  me 
up." 

"  Gib  me  you  fist,"  cried  Bogey. 

Mr.  Figgins  extended  his  hand,  and  the  negro  grasping  it, 
by  a  vigorous  jerk  hoisted  the  prostrate  grocer  out  of  his 
thorny  bed,  tingling  all  over  as  though  he  had  been  stung  by 
nettles. 

Bogey  was  quite  astounded  at  the  transformation  of  his 
dress. 

"  Why.  Massa  Figgins,  what  out-and-out  guy  you  look  ! " 
he  exclaimed ;  "  whar  all  you  hair  gone  to  ?  " 

The  orphan  only  groaned. 

He  was  thinking  of  another  h-air  (without  the  h),  the  air 
he  had  heard  on  the  Turkish  flute. 

Just  at  that  moment  the  too-too-too  of  the  instrument 
sounded  again. 

Figgins  stood  like  one  absorbed. 

All  his  agonizing  pains  were  at  once  forgotten. 

"  How  sweet,  how  plaintive  !  "  he  murmured  to  himself  ; 
"  too-too-too,  tooty-tooty-too  ! "  he  hummed,  in  imitation  of 
the  sound. 

Bogey  heard  it  also,  and  involuntarily  put  his  hands  on  his 
stomach  and  made  a  comically  wry  face. 

"  Whar  dat  orful  squeakin'  row  ? "  he  asked. 

"  Hush,  hush  ! "  exclaimed  the  orphan,  holding  up  his 
hands  reprovingly,  and  turning  up  his  eyes  at  the  same  time ; 
"  it's  heavenly  music ;  it's  a  flute,  my  boyhood's  favourite 
instrument." 

"  Gorra !  "  muttered  Bogey ;  "  it  'nuff  to  gib  a  fellar  de  mull- 
ingrubs  all  down  him  back  and  up  him  belly." 

He  looked  towards  Mr.  Figgins,  and  seeing  him  standing 
with  his  hands  clasped  looking  like  a  white-washed  Turk  in 
a  trance,  he  said — 

"What  de  matter  \vid  ver,  Massa  Figgins?  Am  you 
ill?" 


44  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"  That  flute,  that  melodious  flute,  that  breathes  forth  dulcet 
notes  of  peace,"  murmured  the  orphan,  in  a  deep,  absorbed 
whisper.  "  I  must  have  that  flute." 

Bogey  felt  a  little  anxious. 

"  Me  t'ink  Massa  Figgins  getting  lilly  soft  in  him  nut ; 
him  losing  him  hair  turn  him  mad,"  he  said  to  himself. 

"  I  must  have  that  flute,"  repeated  the  grocer,  in  the  same 
abstracted  tone  and  manner.  "  I  should  think  it  cheap  at 
ten  pounds." 

Bogey,  on  hearing  this,  opened  his  eyes  very  wide. 

He  thought  he  saw  a  chance  of  doing  a  profitable  bit  of 
business  on  his  own  account. 

So,  after  an  instant,  he  said  quietly — 

"  Good  flute  worth  more  dan  ten  pounds  ;  rale  good  blower 
like  dat  worth  twenty  at  de  bery  least." 

"  Yes,  yes ;  I'd  give  twenty  willingly,"  murmured  the  wrapt 
Figgins. 

"  Bery  good,"  said  Bogey,  as  he  instantly  disappeared 
through  the  gate. 

The  orphan  remained  waiting  without. 

The  "  too-too-tooing  "  was  going  on  in  the  usual  doleful 
and  melancholy  manner,  and  guided  by  the  sound,  Bogey 
crept  forward  till  he  came  in  sight  of  the  performer,  who  was 
seated  in  a  snug  nook  in  his  garden  playing  away  to  his  heart's 
content ;  or,  as  the  negro  supposed,  endeavouring  to  frighten 
away  the  birds. 

Bogey  took  stock  of  the  stout  player  and  his  flute. 

Creeping  along  the  shrubbery  till  he  had  got  exactly  oppo- 
site to  the  flautist,  he,  in  the  midst  of  the  too-too-tooing, 
uttered  an  unearthly  groan. 

"  Inshallah  ! "  exclaimed  the  Turk,  stopping  suddenly  ; 
"  what  was  that  ?  " 

"  It  war  me,"  groaned  the  hidden  Bogey  more  deeply  than 
before. 

"  Who  are  you  ?  "  faltered  the  musician,  hearing  the  myste- 
rious voice,  but  seeing  no  one. 

"  Me  am  special  messenger  from  de  Prophet,"  Bogey 
replied. 

"  Allah  Kerim  !  my  dream  is  coming  true.  Is  it  the 
Prophet  speaks  ? "  gasped  the  Turk,  his  olive  cheeks  turning 
the  hue  of  saffron. 

"  Iss,  it  de  profit  brings  me  here,"  returned  Bogey,  truth 
fully. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER-  45 

"What  message  does  be  send  to  his  slave?"  asked  the 
aid  Turk. 

"  H  e  say  you  make  sicfa  orful  row  wid  dat  flute  he  can  git 
•o  sleep,  an%  derefore,  he  send  me  to  stop  it.  You  got  to  gib 

•J  7     IT   .  -  -  "  i    1  .  r  r  I  -".  ' 

The  teeth  of  the  hatt^ffly  musician  were  chattering  m  Us 


His  optics  rolled  wildly  from  side  to  side. 
Just  at  this  crisis  Bogey,  with  his  eyes  glaring  and  his 
white  teeth  MLy  exposed.'  thrust  his  black  face  from  the 

:  - 

"  Drop  it."  he  cried,  with  a  hideous  grin. 

'—'-         _   -  -    ;;  ;:!.;;;-    :;    rt^riT  "^r    :  I  ~  ~  1  ~  i  . 

\\lth  a  veil  of  terror  the  bonified  Toridsh  gendeman,  who 
was  really  half  an  idiot,  and  was  just  then  away  from  his 
keepers,  tet  faD  his  instrument  from  his  trembling  fingen, 
and  starting  up,  waddled  away  from  the  spot  as  though  the 
lories  were  after  him,  while  the  special  messenger  of  the 
Prophet  quietly  picked  up  tbe  flute  with  a  chuckle,  and  re- 
traced his  steps  to  the  gate. 

Here  he  found  Mr.  figgns. 

He  could  scarcely  believe  his  eyes  when  be  saw  the  negro 

•The  JfateTtte  fate!*  berried,  -*e  soother  of  sorrow, 
the  orphan's  comforter.  Let  me  dutch  yon  in  my  grasp. 
Oh,  it  brings  back  my  boyhood's  days." 

As  he  spoke,  he  rushed  forward  eagerly  to  seize  the  trea- 

re. 

Bat  Boger  stock  to  h. 


"Moiiey  fast,  MassaF^gms,"  he  said,  with  a  grin,  "twenty 
poun' am  deprk^  yah  know,  an' dfe  a  fuss-rate  blower.  Too- 
too- too,  tooty-tnm-too,*  he  sounded  on  the  f 


of  my  word." 

d  know  tins,  and  was  not  afraid  to  trust  him. 
den,  dere  <fc  flute,-   he  said  ;  "but  don't  begin 
we  git  good  way  off;  else  pVaps  degemTm 
wid  de  red  cap  bear  and  send  a  dog  arterdespeshal  messen- 
ger ::  ie  Prophet." 
Mr.  Figgins  pledged  himself  not  to  blow  a  note  tffl  they 


46  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WA  Y  AND 

were  a  mile  from  the  spot  at  least,  and  on  the  strength  of 
this  promise,  Bogey  gave  him  up  the  instrument. 

But  no  sooner  did  the  excited  orphan  find  it  in  his  pos- 
session than  he  forgot  all  his  promises,  and  putting  the  flute 
to  his  lips,  he  at  once  commenced  "  The  Girl  I  Left  Behind 
Me,"  in  the  most  brilliant  manner — so  brilliant  indeed  that 
it  reached  the  ears  of  the  owner  inside,  and,  as  Bogey  had 
shrewdly  suspected  would  be  the  case,  the  latter  began  to 
have  some  slight  suspicions  that  he  had  been  done  out  of  his 
flute  by  an  impostor. 

Very  soon  his  voice  was  heard  calling  his  dogs,  and  almost 
immediately  loud  barkings  were  heard. 

"  Run,  run,  Massa  Figgins,  or  de  dogs  tear  yah  to  pieces," 
shouted  Bogey. 

"They  may  tear  me  limb  from  limb,"  returned  the  orphan 
"  but  they  shan't  rob  me  of  my  flute." 

And  without  taking  the  instrument  from  his  lips,  off  he  ran 
playing  "  Cheer,  Boys,  Cheer,"  as  he  hurried  along. 

The  next  moment  out  rushed  several  gaunt-looking  animal* 
and  gave  chase  to  the  musical  Figgins,  urged  on  by  their  mad 
master,  who  was  following  them. 

Bogey  waited  for  him  at  the  gate. 

As  he  came  forth  puffing,  grunting,  and  blowing,  the  negro 
put  out  his  foot,  and  over  he  went  on  his  nose. 

"  Go  back,  massa  bag  breeches,"  cried  Bogey,  fiercely. 

He  added  to  the  effect  of  his  words  by  applying  a  switch 
he  carried  to  the  fat  hind-quarters  of  the  Turk,  who  was  glad 
to  scramble  in  at  his  gate  on  all  fours,  and  shut  it  to  keep  out 
the  "  special  messenger"  and  his  cane. 

When  Bogey  came  up  with  Mr.  Figgins,  he  found  that  usu- 
ally timid  personage  with  his  back  against  a  tree,  doing  battle 
with  his  canine  foes,  who  were  making  sad  havoc  with  his 
Moslem  garments. 

"  Bravo,  Massa  Figgins,"  cried  Bogey,  as  he  rushed  in 
among  the  yelping  pack,  "  we  soon  get  rid  of  dese  heah." 

With  this  he  laid  about  him  with  such  energy  that  the 
Turkish  dogs,  utterly  bewildered,  dropped  their  ears,  and 
tucking  their  tails  between  their  legs,  slunk  howling  away, 
whilst  the  triumphant  orphan  accompanied  their  flight  with 
a  lively  tune  on  his  flute. 

Accompanied  by  Bogey,  Mark  Antony  reached  his  quar- 
ters in  safety. 

He  then  promptly  paid  the  price  of  his  instrument,  and  at 


OZS  BOY  TINKER.  47 

puce  set  himself  steadily  to  practise,  to  the  great  horror  of  all 

in  the  bouse. 


A  week  passed.  Then  die  following  conversation  took 
place  between  young  Jack  Harkaway  and  his  comrade  Harry 
Girdwood. 

" 1  say,  old  fellow,  are  you  fond  of  music  ?  " 

"  Well,  it  all  depends  what  sort  of  music  it  is,"  Jack  re- 
plied. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  Figgins'  instrumental  perform- 
ance?" 

"Well,  I  think  it's  an  awful  row." 

•  So  do  I ;  but  he  doesn't  seem  to  think  so." 

"No;  he's  always  at  it;  all  day  long  and  half  through  the 
night ;  hell  blow  himself  inside  his  flute  if  he  goes  on  at 
this  rate.  I  consider  it  comes  under  the  head  of  a  nuisance." 

"  Most  decidedly,"  said  Jack,  «*  and  like  other  nuisances, 
must  be  put  a  stop  to." 

u  All  right :  let's  send  for  him  at  once." 

Bogey  was  summoned  anr?  dispatched  with  a  polite  mes- 
sage from  young  Jack,  that  he  would  be  glad  to  speak  to 
him. 

On  lecdffiug  the  message,  he  repaired  at  once  to  the 
room  where  Jack  and  Harry  Girdwood  were  located,  pre- 
paring another  practical  joke  for  the  benefit  of  the  orphan. 

Mr.  Figgins  took  his  flute  with  him,  and  too-tooed  all  the 
way  till  he  reached  the  door  of  Jack's  room. 

For  Jack  and  Harry,  it  shook!  be  mentioned,  had  followed 
the  orphan  to  his  new  abode,  and  secured  rooms  in  the  same 


He  entered. 

-  Sit  down,  Mr.  Figgins,"  said  Jack, 

Mr.  Figgins  sat  down,  nursing  his  flute. 

"  I  have  sent  for  you,"  Jack  commenced. 

"  Ah,  I  see,  you  wish  for  a  tune,"  cried  the  orphan,  with 
much  hilarity,  as  he  put  the  flute  to  his  lips  and  began  to 
play. 

"  On  the  contrary,"  cried  Jack,  quickly ;  « it's  just  what 
we  don't  wish  for ;  we  should  be  glad  if  you'd  come  to  a 
stop." 

Mr.  Figgins  opened  his  eyes  with  astonishment. 


48  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  Come  to  a  stop,"  he  echoed  ;  "  is  it  possible  that  you 
wish  to  stop  my  flute  ?  Why,  I  thought  you  liked  music." 

"  So  I  do,"  Jack  replied,  drily,  "  when  it  is  music." 

"  And  isn't  my  flute  music  ?  Are  not  its  tones  soft  and 
sweet  and  soothing  to  the  spirits  ?  " 

"  We  have  found  them  quite  the  reverse,"  Jack  assured 
him  ;  "  in  fact,  if  you  don't  put  away  your  flute,  you'll  drive 
us  both  mad,  and  then  I  wouldn't  like  to  answer  for  the 
consequences — which  might  be  awful." 

Mr.  Figgins  looked  aghast. 

"The  idea  of  such  exquisite  music  as  my  instrument. dis- 
courses driving  anyone  mad,"  he  exclaimed  at  length,  "  is 
past  belief." 

"  You  may  call  it  exquisite  music,  but  we  call  it  an  awful 
row,"  Jack  replied,  candidly,  "  therefore  have  the  goodness 
to  shut  up." 

The  orphan  drew  himself  up  and  clutched  his  flute  in  a 
kind  of  convulsive  indignation. 

"  I  object  to  shutting  up,  Mr.  Harkaway,"  he  exclaimed, 
determinately ;  "  in  fact,  I  will  not  shut  up.  In  this  dulcet 
instrument  I  have  found  a  balm  for  all  my  woes,  and  I  in- 
tend to  play  it  incessantly  for  the  rest  of  my  existence." 

"  You'll  blow  yourself  into  a  consumption,"  said  Harry 
Girdwood. 

"  Well,  if  I  do,  I'm  only  a  poor  orphan  whom  no  one  will 
regret,''  returned  Mr.  Figgins,  a  tear  trickling  down  his  nose 
at  the  thought  of  his  lonely  condition  ;  "  I  shall  die  breath- 
ing forth  some  mournful  melody,  and  my  flute  will " 

"  You  can  leave  that  to  us  as  a  legacy,  and  we'll  put  it  under 
a  glass  case,"  said  Harry. 

"No;  my  flute  shall  be  buried  with  me  in  the  silent 
grave." 

"We  don't  care  what  you  do  with  it  after  you're  dead," 
returned  Jack,  "but  we  object  to  being  annoyed  with  it 
while  you're  alive." 

"  Oh,  you  shan't  be  exposed  to  any  further  annoyances 
on  my  account,"  said  the  orphan,  rising  grandly ;  "  I  and 
my  flute  will  take  our  departure  together." 

With  these  words  he  left  the  room,  and  very  shortly  after- 
wards quitted  the  house. 


Figgins  being  determined  to   keep   apart   from    the 


H/S  BOY  TINKER.  49 

Harkaway  party,  gave  up  the  rooms  he  had  taken,  and  after 
some  search  found  another  lodging  in  the  upper  chamber  of 
a  house  in  a  retired  part  of  the  town. 

Here  he  determined  to  settle  down,  and  devote  himself 
with  more  ardour  than  ever  to  the  practice  of  his  favourite 
instrument. 


It  was  night. 

Mr.  Figgins  was  in  bed,  but  he  could  get  no  sleep. 

Curious  insects,  common  to  Eastern  climes,  crawled  forth 
from  chinks  in  the  walls  and  cracks  in  the  floor,  and  nibbled 
the  orphan  in  various  parts  of  his  anatomy  till  he  felt  as  if 
the  surface  of  his  skin  was  one  large  blister. 

"  What  a  dreadful  climate  is  this,"  he  murmured,  as  he 
sat  up  in  bed ;  "  nothing  but  creeping  things  everywhere. 
Phew !  what's  to  be  done  ?  " 

He  reflected  a  moment 

"  I  have  it !  "  he  exclaimed,  u  my  flute,  my  precious  flute, 
that  will  soothe  me.*' 

Hopping  nimbly  out  of  bed,  he  dressed  himself  in  his 
European  costume,  seized  his  instrument,  and  began  a 
tune. 

He  had  been  playing  all  day  long,  and  the  other  lodgers 
in  the  house  were  congratulating  themselves  on  the  cessa- 
tion of  the  infliction,  when  suddenly  the  instrumental  torture 
commenced  again. 

u  Too-too,  too-tum-too,  tooty-tum,  tooty-tum,  too-tum-too,** 
went  the  flute,  in  a  more  shrill  and  vigorous  manner  than 
ever,  whilst  a  select  party  of  dogs,  attracted  by  the  melody, 
assembled  under  the  window  and  howled  in  concert. 

In  the  chamber  next  to  that  occupied  by  the  infatuated 
Figgins  lodged  a  Turk,  Bosja  by  name. 

Bosja,  in  the  first  place,  had  no  taste  for  music,  and 
particularly  detested  the  sound  of  a  flute. 

Secondly,  he  was  suffering  from  an  excruciating  toothache, 
and  the  incessant  too-lum,  too-tum,  tooty-tum-too — with  the 
additional  music  of  the  dogs — drove  him  mad. 

He  was  sitting  up  with  his  pipe  in  his  mouth,  and  a  green, 
yellow-striped  turban  pulled  down  over  his  ears,  trying  to 
shut  out  the  sound,  but  in  vain. 

•'  Oh,  oh !  Allah  be  merciful  to  me ! "  he  groaned,  as  the 
irritated  nerve  gave  him  an  extra  twinge. 


50  YOUNG  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  Too-too,  too-tum-too,  too-tum,  too-tum,  tooty-tum-too," 
from  the  orphan's  flute  answered  him. 

"  Allah  confound  the  wretch  with  his  tooty-tum-too ! " 
growled  the  distracted  sufferer;  "if  he  only  knew  what  I 
am  enduring." 

But  this  Mr.  Figgins  did  not  know. 

Probably  he  would  not  have  cared  if  he  had  known,  and 
he  continued  to  pour  forth  melodious  squeakings  to  his  own 
entire  satisfaction. 

At  length  the  patience  of  Bosja  was  utterly  exhausted, 
and  he  summoned  the  landlady. 

"  What  son  of  Shitan  have  you  got  in  the  next  room  ?  " 
he  demanded  of  her,  fiercely. 

"  I  know  very  little  of  him,"  returned  the  mistress  of 
the  house;  "only  that  he  is  a  Prankish  gentleman,  who 
dresses  sometimes  as  a  Turk,  and  has  lately  come  to  lodge 
here." 

"  He  is  a  dog,  and  the  son  of  a  dog  !  May  his  flute  choke 
him,  and  his  father's  grave  be  defiled !  "  growled  the  irascible 
Turk ,  "  tell  him  to  leave  off,  or  I  will  kill  him  and  burn  his 
flute." 

The  landlady  went  at  once  and  tapped  at  the  door  of  the 
musical  lodger. 

There  was  no  response  save  the  too-too-too  of  the  flute. 

"  Signer  !  "  she  called  after  a  moment. 

"  What's  the  matter  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Figgins  from  within ; 
*'  do  you  wish  me  to  come  and  play  you  a  tune  ?  "  and  he 
then  continued  "  too-too,  tooty-too." 

"  The  gentleman  in  the  next  room  objects  to  the  sound  of 
your  flute." 

"  Does  he  ? — tooty-too,  tooty-too." 

"  Yes  ;  and  he  begs  you'll  leave  off." 

"  I  shan't !— tooty-tum,  tooty-tum,  tooty-too.  I  intend  to 
play  all  night." 

The  landlady,  having  delivered  her  message,  went  down- 
stairs. 

Mr.  Figgins  still  continued  to  blow  away  and  the  agonized 
Bosja  to  mutter  curses  not  loud,  but  deep,  upon  his  head 
and  his  instrument. 

But  patience  has  its  limits,  and  Bosja,  never  remarkable 
for  that  virtue,  having  sworn  all  the  oaths  he  knew  twice 
over,  at  last  sprang  from  his  bed,  and  dashing  down  his 
pipe,  rapped  fiercely  at  the  wall. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  51 

"What  do  TOO  want?  Shall  I  come  and  play  a  fern 
tunes  to  you  ?  ^inquired  the  orphan,  placidly  pausing  for  sm 
instant. 

"Yon  vile  SOB  of  perdition,,  stop  that  accursed  noise  I " 
shouted  the  Turk. 

"Too-too,  tooty-too/* 
Do  you  hear,  unbeievmg  dog  ?  r 


"Tooty-too— yes,  I  hear— tooty-tooty-tooty-too.** 
roustop?" 
to  go  cm — too-tum-too— all  night." 


"Tooty-too— yes,  I  hear— to 

«  Then  why  dont  you  stop  ? ! 

-Because  I  intend  to  go  on- 

"  But  you're  driving  me  to  distraction." 

*  Nonsense ;  go  to  bed  and  sleep— tooty-tinn,  tooty-tnm, 
tooty-too.  You  wffl  fike  the  beautiful  flute  in  time." 

"But  I  can't  skep  with  that  infernal  tooty-too  in  my  ears, 
and  I've  got  the  toothache.*' 

"Have  it  out,    Youll  feel  better." 

This  cool  irony  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Figgins  was  fike  oil 
poured  upon  the  fierce  temper  of  the  irascible  Bosja,  and  be 
Amtrd 


"If  I  hear  any  more  of  that  diabolical  ' tootum-too,'  I 
swear  by  Allah  IH  take  your  life,  and  give  your  body  to  the 
crows  and  vultures." 

"  Ha,  ha  1"  laughed  the  reckless  Figgins.  "Tooty-tum, 
tooty-tam,  too-tum 

But  before  he  could  finish  his  musical  phrase,  the  mad- 
dened Bosja  had  sebed  his  scimitar,  and  rushed  like  a  boll 
at  the  partition. 

The  partition  was  thin,  the  Turk  was  burly  and  thick, 
and  he  plunged  through  head  first  into  the  orphan's  apart- 
ment, to  the  no  little  surprise  and  dismay  of  the  latter. 

It  was  quite  a  picture. 

Bosja  waned  his  weapon  over  his  head ;  Mark  Antony 
the  bed  and  wrapped  himself  tightly 
clutching  his  flute  to  his  side, 
the  pah-  stood  glaring  at  each  other. 

-  Your  flute,  vife  dog,  or  your  Bfe,»  shouted  the  Turk. 

•I  object  to  part  with  either," cried  the  orphan.  -Go 
and  have  your  tooth  out,  and  be  happy.* 

Down  came  the  scimitar  with  a  swish  in  the  direction  of 
his  held. 

But  the  grocer  had  quickly  withdraw  i:  ber.eith  the 
dc-.hes. 

Not  to  be  thwarted,  however,  in  his  vengeance,  the  borij 


g2  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

Bosja  swooped  down  upon  the  heap,  and  dragged  them  up 
in  his  grasp,  the  orphan  included. 

"  Now  I  have  you,"  he  cried,  as  he  seized  the  obnoxious 
flute. 

"Give  me  my  instrument,  infidel,"  shrieked  the  orphan, 
as  he  threw  off  the  blanket,  and  clung  to  the  flute  with 
desperation. 

At  the  same  moment,  he  recognised  the  green  and  yellow- 
striped  turban  on  the  head  of  the  Turk. 

It  was  Bosja  into  whose  hands  it  had  fallen,  when  Mr. 
Figgins  was  escaping  from  the  mob. 

"That  is  my  turban,"  he  cried,  as  with  one  hand  he 
dragged  it  from  his  enemy's  head,  with  dauntless  vehemence, 
and  bringing  his  flute  down  with  a  smart  crack  on  the  Turk's 
bald  pate. 

The  Turk,  who  was  much  more  of  a  bully  than  a  hero, 
was  quite  confounded  at  the  excited  energy  which  the 
Prankish  lodger  displayed.  Dropping  his  scimitar,  he  then 
had  a  struggle  for  the  flute. 

Round  the  room  they  went,  pulling  and  hauling. 

At  length,  lurching  against  the  door,  it  burst  open. 

The  combatants  now  found  themselves  on  the  landing. 

Here  the  struggle  continued,  till,  at  length,  giving  a 
desperate  tug,  the  flute  came  in  half,  and  Bosja  fell  back- 
wards, head  over  heels,  down  the  stairs,  with  the  upper  joint 
of  the  instrument  in  his  hand. 

The  landlady,  who  thought  the  house  was  falling,  came 
hurrying  to  see  what  had  happened,  and  found  the  Turk 
lying  in  a  heap  at  the  bottom  of  the  stairs,  with  the  breath 
almost  knocked  out  of  his  body. 

It  took  some  time  to  bring  him  to  himself. 

It  was  just  as  he  was  recovering  there  was  a  loud  knock- 
ing at  the  street  door. 

On  opening  it,  a  body  of  Turkish  soldiers  appeared  drawn 
up  in  front  of  it. 

"  What  is  the  cause  of  this  disturbance  ? "  inquired  the 
leader  of  the  troop. 

Bosja  quickly  gave  his  own  version  of  what  had  happened. 

Of  course,  it  was  highly  exaggerated. 

He,  a  true  believer,  had  been  assaulted,  robbed  of  his 
turban,  and  thrown  downstairs  by  a  rascally  dog  of  a  Giaour, 
who  lodged  in  a  room  next  to  him. 

This  was  quite  sufficient  to  arouse  the  indignation  of  the 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  53 

Officer,  and,  with  three  of  his  troop,  that  functionary  ascended 
to  seize  the  delinquent. 

But.  on  reaching  the  room,  it  was  discovered  to  be  empty. 

'•The  Prankish  hound  laughs  at  our  beards,"  said  the 
officer.  "  He  has  escaped  by  the  window." 

And  such  had  been  the  intention  of  Mark  Antony  Figgins. 

But  not  being  accustomed  to  such  perilous  descents,  he 
had  found  himself  baffled  in  his  flight,  and  was  now  perched 
on  a  ledge,  half  way  between  the  window  and  the  ground, 
unable  either  to  proceed  or  to  return. 

He  was  soon  espied  by  the  soldiers,  and  a  shout  announced 
his  detection. 

A  ladder  was  quickly  procured,  and  the  luckless  orphan 
very  shortly  found  himself  a  prisoner. 

**  What  din  have  you  been  earing  ?  "  demanded  the  officer, 
sternly. 

"  I  'haven't  been  eating  dirt  at  all,"  returned  the  indignant 
Figgins,  "  but  I  believe  that  fat  Turk  has  swallowed  half  at 
my  flute." 

Bosja  came  forward  at  this  with  the  missing  portion  in 
bis  hand,  and  handed  it  to  the  officer. 

The  orphan  made  a  snatch  at  it,  but  received  only  a  box 
on  the  ear  from  the  officer. 

The  other  half  of  his  cherished  intrument  was  wrested  from 
him,  and  he  marched  off  to  the  lock-up  until  die  case  could 
be  tried  on  the  morrow  before  the 


CHAPTER  LXVL 

BOW  THE  FLUTE  ADVEITTURB  TKRMTV  ATEIX 

THE  morrow  had  come. 

Hearing  that  a  Frank  was  to  be  tried,  the  court  was 

CTC^'Cr  d. 

At  the  appointed  hour  Mark  Antony  Figgins,  looking 
particularly  doleful,  was  conducted  from  his  cell  to  the 
presence  of  the  administrator  of  the  law. 

Osman,  the  ruling  bashaw,  although  a  Turk,  was  a  regular 
Tartar  to  deal  with. 

He  administered  plenty  of  law,  but  very  Ktde  justice ;  if 
the  latter  was  required,  money  was  die  bashaw's  idol,  and  it 
must  be  handsomely  paid  for. 


§4  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

As  soon  as  the  parties  were  brought  in,  the  judicial 
potentate  eyed  them  sternly  for  some  time. 

Then  he  said — 

"Which  is  the  plaintiff?" 

"  I  am,"  exclaimed  Bosja. 

"  No  ;  I  am,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Figgins. 

"  What  bosh  is  this  ?  "  cried  the  bashaw ;  "  you  can't  both 
be  plaintiffs." 

"  Most  high  and  mighty,  he  robbed  me  of  my  turban  and 
knocked  me  down  stairs,"  affirmed  Bosja. 

"  No,  your  worship ;  he  robbed  me  of  my  turban  and  stole 
half  my  flute,"  protested  the  orphan. 

The  official  dignitary  frowned  and  shut  his  eyes  reflectively. 

He  foresaw  that  he  had  a  case  of  unusual  intricacy  before 
him,  and  he  was  thinking  how  he  should  deal  with  it. 

After  a  moment  he  opened  his  eyes,  rubbed  his  nose 
profoundly,  and  sneezed. 

All  the  officials  imitated  their  superior  by  rubbing  their 
noses  and  sneezing  in  concert. 

The  uproar  was  tremendous. 

Order  being  at  length  restored,  the  bashaw  fixed  his  eyes 
upon  Bosja,  and  said  to  him — 

"  Let  me  hear  what  you  have  to  say." 

"  It  is  this.  Your  slave  last  night  was  troubled  with  the 
toothache,  and  retired  to  his  couch.  The  pain  kept  me 
awake,  and  just  as  I  was  going  to  sleep " 

"  Stop !  "  cried  the  bashaw ;  "  you  say  that  the  pain  kept 
you  awake,  and  then  you  say  you  were  going  to  sleep.  You 
couldn't  be  awake  and  asleep  at  the  same  time." 

A  hum  of  applause  ran  round  the  court  at  this  sagacious 
remark. 

"  He  speaks  the  words  of  wisdom,"  murmured  some. 

"  What  a  lawyer  he  is,"  whispered  others. 

"I  had  been  awake  for  some  hours,"  explained  Bosja, 
"  when  the  pain  lulled  a  little,  and  I  began  to  doze." 

"  Well,  you  began  to  doze,  and  then  ? " 

"  Then  I  was  disturbed  by  a  dreadful  squeaking  ru>ise  in 
the  next  room." 

"A  rat?" 

"  No,  your  highness ;  a  flute." 

"  That  was  my  flute,  your  worship,"  cried  the  indignant 
orphan ;  "  whose  dulcet  tone  he  calls  a  dreadful  sque— — " 

"  Silence,  dog,"  shouted  the  bashaw. 


ff/S  bGY  TiA'KE£.  55 

*  Silence,"  shouted  everyone  else, 

**  Continue,"  said  the  judge  to  Bosja, 

"  I  endured  the  dreadful  sound  as  long  as  I  could,  until 
the  anguish  of  my  tooth  became  so  great  I  could  bear  it  no 
longer,  and  I  sent  a  civil  messenger  to  the  Frank  yonder  to 
cease." 

"  And  he  complied  with  your  request? * 

"  Not  he,  your  mightiness.  He  played  all  the  louder,  and 
the  dreadful  noise  he  made  nearly  killed  me." 

"  I  was  in  my  own  room,  your  worship,"  interposed  Mr. 
Figgins,  "  and  had  a  right  to  play  as  loud  as  I  liked." 

The  bashaw  here  referred  to  his  vizier. 

**  What  says  the  law  ?  "  he  asked,  in  a  low  tone.  «*  Does 
it  permit  a  man  to  do  what  he  likes  in  his  own  room  ?  " 

The  vizier  scratched  his  nose  and  reflected. 

All  the  officials  scratched  then-  noses  and  reflected. 

After  a  moment  the  vizier  replied — 

"  It  all  depends,  most  wise  and  illustrious.  If  die  owner 
of  the  room  be  a  true  believer,  he  may  turn  it  upside  down 
if  he  please,  not  else." 

"  Good ;  and  this  flute-player  is  an  infidel — a  dog." 

**  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,  I'm  a  retired  grocer,"  put  in 
Figgins,  who  overheard  the  remark. 

"  Silence,"  growled  the  bashaw ;  "  go  on,  plaintiff." 

"  Well,  your  highness,"  continued  Bosja,  a  I  continued  to 
get  worse  'and  worse  under  this  dreadful  *  too-tooting,'  until 
at  last,  driven  to  desperation,  I  sprang  from  my  bed,  and 
hammered  at  the  wall,  imploring  him  to  be  quiet," 

"And  he  still  refused?" 

"  He  did,  your  mightiness." 

«  And  you?" 

".  I  was  imploring  Allah  to  soften  his  unmerciful  heart, 
when  suddenly  he  burst  through  the  partition,  which  was 
thin " 

"No,  no,  no,  your  worship,**  interrupted  Mr.  Figgins, 
vehemently,  "  it  was  he  who  burst  through,  not  me." 

"  Silence,"  cried  the  bashaw ;  "  dare  not  to  interrupt  the 
words  of  truth." 

"  But  they're  not  words  of  truth,  your  worship ;  they're 
abominable— false." 

"  Silence,  dog,"  shouted  the  potentate,  crimson  with  anger. 

"  Silence,  dog,"  echoed  the  rest  of  the  judicial  body. 

**  Continue,  plaintiff." 


56  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"  Well,  your  highness,"  went  on  Bosja,  "  he  then  seized  me 
violently,  tore  my  turban  from  my  head,  and  endeavoured  to 
thrust  his  diabolical, '  too-tooing'  instrument  down  my  throat." 

"  To  which  you  objected  ?  " 

"  Strongly,  your  highness.  I  seized  the  flute  in  self- 
defence,  and  it  came  in  half  in  my  hand,  and  he  then  dragged 
me  from  the  room,  and  with  gigantic  strength,  hurled  me 
backwards  down  the  stairs." 

"Allah  Kerin,  it  was  a  mercy  your  back  was  not  broken," 
exclaimed  the  bashaw. 

"  I  feel  sore  all  over,  your  highness,"  said  Bosja,  ruefully, 
"  and  fear  I  am  seriously  injured." 

"  And  the  culprit  was  endeavouring  to  escape,  was  he  not  ?  *' 
asked  the  judge. 

"  He  was,  your  mightiness,  when  my  soldiers  discovered 
him  clinging  to  the  wall,"  replied  the  officer  of  the  soldiers. 

"  Wallah  thaih,  it  is  well  said." 

The  bashaw  conferred  again  with  his  vizier  for  a  moment, 
and  then,  turning  towards  the  luckless  Figgins,  who  found 
himself  changed  from  the  plaintiff  into  the  defendant,  he  said 
to  him  sternly — 

"And  now,  unbelieving  dog,  what  have  you  to  say?" 

"  Only  this,"  the  orphan  replied,  without  hesitation  ;  "  that 
that  witness  has  uttered  a  tissue  of  abominable  lies." 

"  I  have  spoken  naught  but  the  truth,"  exclaimed  the 
unblushing  Bosja,  solemnly.  "  Bashem  ustun,  upon  my  head 
be  it." 

"  Well,  let  us  hear  what  account  you  have  to  give,"  said  the 
bashaw  to  the  defendant. 

"  My  account  is  very  simple,"  said  Figgins.  "  I  was  play- 
ing my  flute,  when  that  Turk  insisted  on  my  stopping.  I 
considered  I  had  a  right  to  do  as  I  liked  in  my  own 
apartment  and  refused." 

"  You  had  no  right  to  do  as  you  liked." 

"  What,  not  in  my  own  chamber  that  I  had  paid  for  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not." 

Mr.  Figgins  shook  his  clenched  fist  fiercely  in  the  air  at 
this  extraordinary  declaration. 

"  There's  neither  law  nor  justice  here,"  he  cried,  indignantly. 
"  In  England " 

"  You're  not  in  England,  dog,"  shouted  the  bashaw, "  you're 
in  Turkey." 

The  orphan  felt  painfully  at  that  moment  that  he  was. 


HIS  BOY  TIN1CER.  57 

"  I  don't  care  how  soon  I'm  out  of  such  a  miserable  den 
of  thieves  and  rogues,*1  he  said. 

"What  does  the  fellow  say  ?"  demanded  the  bashaw,  who 
did  not  quite  understand  all*  the  orphan  said. 

"  He  says  his  face  win  be  whitened  by  the  rays  of  your 
highness's*  wisdom,  the  like  to  which  he  has  never  before 
seen,"  the  vizier  interpreted. 

"  Umph !  '*  growled  his  superior. 

Then  ill  ill  i  mini  himself  once  more  to  the  defendant,  he 
Siid— 

"Goon." 

"Well,  in  the  midst  of  my  practice  that  fat  Turk  burst 
ftn-ugh  the  partition  of  my  room,  scimitar  in  hand.  The 
first  thing  I  saw  on  his  head  was  my  turban,  which  I  lost 
a  week  ago.  I  seized  my  own  property " 

"  Inshallah !»  shouted*  the  bashaw,  "this  fellow  is 
the  same  story  as  the  other.  He  is  laughing  at  our 
and  making  us  eat  dirt.  I'D  hear  no  more. " 

'•But,  your  worship 

'If  hear  no  more!"  shouted  the  judge.     - 1  find  bin 
on  all  points." 
mv  flute " 

"  Your  flute  is  forfeited." 

The  orphan  uttered  a  cry  of  despair. 

"My  flute  that  cost  me  twenty-five  pounds  only  a  week 
since.4  be  wailed  dolefully. 

The  bashaw  pricked  up  his  ears  at  these  words. 

A  man  who  could  afford  to  give  twenty-five  pounds  for  a 
flute  must  be  possessed  of  piopetty. 

The  scales  of  justice  quivered  whilst  he  whispered  to  his 


"This  Frank  is  rich,  b  he  not?  " 
«  Heaven  forbid  that  I  should 
"s  opinion.  Most  of  his 


"Let  us  see." 

Looking  towards  the  agitated  grocer,  the  bashaw  said,  in  a 

rr.r-~.~rd  ~.~~. ± — 

The  law  pronounces  yon  guOty.    Still,  in  our  mercy  and 


clemency,  we  incline  to  show  yon  favour.    Your  flute,  for 
which  rttaremsy^Dakl  twenty-five  pou-aoXi   * 
for  another  twenty-five  you  may  redeem  it.* 


58  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  What ! "  he  cried,  "  pay  twice  over  for  what's  my  own 
property  ?  I  won't  pay  another  farthing,  you  pot-bellied  old 
humbug." 

"What  does  he  say? "asked  the  bashaw  of  his  vizier; 
"  does  he  consent  ? " 

The  interpreter  turned  slightly  green  with  dismay  as  he 
stammered  in  reply — 

"  He  expresses  himself  utterly  overpowered  by  the — the 
—splendour  of  your  highness's  magnificent  condescension ; 
but — a — a — at  the  same  time  he  is  not  at  the  present  moment 
able  to  a — avail  himself  of  it." 

"  You  mean  to  say  he  has  no  sufficient  funds — is  that  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  your  highness." 

The  disappointed  bashaw  uttered  an  angry  grunt,  and 
looking  savagely  at  the  prisoner,  said  to  him — 

"  Since  you  can't  pay,  you  must •" 

"  I  can  pay,"  shouted  the  orphan,  in  a  furiously  indignant 
tone ;  "  but  I  won't." 

The  bashaw  grinned  at  him  like  a  fiend,  and  demanding 
the  flute  to  be  handed  to  him,  held  it  up  before  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  court. 

"  Be  witness  all,"  he  exclaimed,  "  that  yonder  obstinate 
Frank  despises  our  clemency,  and  refuses  to  redeem  this 
flute,  his  property." 

"  That  flute  is  not  his  property,  it  is  mine,"  cried  a  voice 
from  the  crowd. 

At  the  same  moment  a  portly  Turk,  in  a  red  fez  cap, 
pressed  forward. 

He  was  recognised  at  once  as  Kallum  Beg,  a  Turk  of  dis- 
tinction, but  who  at  times  had  to  be  treated  as  a  madman. 

"  That  flute  is  mine,  O  noble  bashaw !  "  he  repeated. 

The  judge  winked  and  blinked,  and  seemed  greatly  per- 
plexed at  this  unexpected  declaration. 

"  Yours  ? "  he  echoed,  at  length. 

"  Yes,  your  highness.     I  was  robbed  of  it  a  week  since." 

"  And  that  lying  son  of  Shitan  told  us  he  bought  it  for 
twenty-five  pounds." 

"  So  I  did,"  protested  the  orphan. 

"  Silence  1 "  roared  the  bashaw,  "  you  have  made  us  eat 
nothing  but  dirt.  You  know  you  stole  it." 

Then  turning  to  the  rightful  owner  of  the  instrument,  he 
said  to  him — 

"  Kallum  Beg,  the  flute  is  yours.    Still,  as  you  contradicted 


SIS  BOY  TUSKER.  59 

roe  in  the  open  court,  declaring  it  to  be  your  property,  when 
I  had  declared  it  to  be  the  property  of  another,  you  are 
fined  fifty  sequins.** 

The  Turk  grunted,  and  shrugged  his  shoulders,  for  each 
of  which  offences  he  was  instantly  fined  an  additional  fifty 
sequins,  Talcing  a  hundred  and  fifty.  There  being  no 
appeal,  the  fine  was  paid  and  Kallum  Beg  received  his  flute. 

"  And  now,"  continued  the  bashaw,  "  let  that  unbelieving 
dog  receive  twenty  strokes  of  the  bastinado,  on  the  soles  of 
his  feet." 

In  an  instant  the  orphan  was  jerked  off  his  legs,  and 
placed  flat  on  the  ground. 

The  executioner  stepped  forward,  and  having  removed  bis 
slippers,  flourished  his  cane. 

"  Begin,"  cried  the  judge. 

Swish  fell  the  bamboo  upon  the  orphan's  naked  feet 

The  pain  was  so  exquisite  that  the  victim  shrieked 
«*  Murder ! "  at  the  top  of  his  voice. 

The  bashaw  grinned  from  ear  to  ear. 

"  Perhaps  the  prisoner  would  rather  pay  than  suffer,"  he 
said,  after  a  moment. 

« Yes,  yes,  I  would,"  cried  Mr.  Figgins,  desperately;  «a 
great  deal  rather.  How  much  ?  " 

"Ten  sequins  a  stroke.  A  hundred  and  ninety  sequins 
in  all" 

"  IT1  pay  the  sum.  Oh,  why  (fid  I  ever  leave  delightful 
London  ?  "  said  the  grocer. 

"  Raise  him ! "  said  the  bashaw. 

The  victim  was  lifted  up,  and  a  aessenger  dispatched 
with  a  note  to  young  Jack  Harkaway  to  forward  the  orphan's 
cash-box. 

In  a  short  time  the  man  returned;  and  the  box  was  at  once 
handed  over  to  the  bashaw,  who  having  received  the 
helped  himself  at  once  to  double  the  sum  be  had 

"Now  I  suppose  I'm  at  liberty,"  said  Mr.  Figgins, 
glancing  wistfully  at  his  cash  box. 

"  Not  just  yet,"  returned  the  grasping  judge,  who  having 
the  money  in  his  possession,  was  resolved  to  appropriate  as 
much  as  possible. 

"I'm  inclined  to  think  that  you  have  been  unjustly 
accused.  I  therefore  permit  you  as  a  particular  favour  to 
avenge  yourself  upon  Bosja.  You  must  fight  with  him.  kill 
him  if  you  can,  and  I  shall  not  bold  you  responsible." 


60  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

The  orphan  looked  unutterable  things  at  this  permission, 
whilst  Bosja,  who  was  a  great  coward  at  heart,  turned  all 
manner  of  colours. 

"  Your  mightiness "  he  began. 

But  the  bashaw  cut  him  short. 

"You  are  fined  fifty  sequins  for  speaking  when  you 
are  not  spoken  to,"  he  cried ;  "  treasurer,  collect  the 
money." 

But  Bosja  had  not  a  single  coin  left. 

"  Then  he  must  go  to  prison,"  said  the  judge,  sternly ; 
"  but  not  till  after  he  has  fought  with  the  man  he  has  falsely 
accused." 

"  I've  no  wish  to  fight.  I  want  to  go  home,"  exclaimed 
Mr.  Figgins. 

"  You're  fined  another  fifty  sequins,"  remarked  the  bashaw, 
blandly ;  "  for  not  wishing  to  fight  when  I  say  you  are  to 
fight." 

Whilst  the  judge  dipped  once  more  into  the  cash-box,  the 
executioner  went  for  weapons,  and  shortly  reappeared  with 
a  couple  of  enormous  scimitars,  which  he  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  combatants. 

A  dead  silence  fell  upon  the  eager  crowd,  who  longed  for 
the  fight  to  commence. 

"  Are  you  ready  ? "  demanded  the  bashaw. 

"  N-n-n-no,  I'm  not,"  faltered  the  orphan,  whose  ferocity 
had  entirely  disappeared  with  the  loss  of  his  flute ;  "  I'm  not 
a  fighting  man,  and  I  don't  like  fighting  with  swords — I 
might  get  hurt.  I  would  rather  forgive  Mr.  Bosja  than  kill 
him." 

His  opponent  evinced  his  satisfaction  at  this  humane 
proposal  by  a  ghastly  smile. 

But  his  tongue  stuck  to  the  roof  of  his  mouth  with  terror, 
and  he  said  nothing. 

But  the  bashaw  was  not  to  be  thwarted  in  this  manner. 

"  It  is  my  will  that  you  fight,"  he  said,  in  a  determined 
tone ;  "and  fight  you  must,  or  each  find  a  substitute." 

The  combatants  strained  their  eyes  eagerly  amongst  the 
crowd. 

But  no  one  volunteered  to  take  their  places. 

Suddenly  Mr.  Figgins  caught  sight  of  a  black  figure  that 
was  pantomiming  to  him  very  eagerly  in  the  distance. 

A  flash  of  joy  rushed  across  his  troubled  spirit. 

It  was  Tinker. 


HIS  BOY  TIXKEJL  61 

He  eoold  judge  by  his  actions  he  was  ready  to  take 


I  -.t  ::.-i  i 

Where?"  demanded  the  bashaw,  looking  intensely  dis- 


Here  de  dustJbcte,"  sbooted  Tinker,  in  reply ;  "i 
way. 
~ .  ~~ '.'  ^~ 

As  he  soke,  he  elbowed  his  war  throuh  the  crowd  tin 


be  reached  the  space  in  front  of  the  seat  of  justice. 

Here  he  shook  hands  with  Mr.  Kegms,  ami  nodded  as 
femffiany  to  the  bashaw  as  though  he  bid  beea  a  particular 
friend  of  his. 

*  What  son  of  Jehanum  is  that?"  growled  the  bashaw, 
•umfing  fiercely  at  Tinker. 

*  He  is  my  substitute,"  •••1.S—..1  the  grocer. 

Is  he  ?  And  do   yon  know  what  yon   must  pay  to  be 

'  to  make  use  of  him  ?"  asked  the  bashaw. 
Xo,  you  old  thief,  I  don't,"  said  Figgins,  softly;  ifaea 

Two  hundred  sequins,"  said  the  jndge. 

orphan;«no 


,-  assented  the  orphan;  -no  donbtyonun 
•end  to  empty  my  box  before  you  let  me  go." 

His  restored  the  complacency  of  the  bashaw,  who,  having 
fey  this  last  demand  used  up  aO  the  grocer's  cash,  finished 
by  taking  possession  of  his  cash-box  to  cany  it  away  in. 


it  gaily  round  his  head. 
could  n 


tobe 
Tinker  received  a  scimitar  from  the  hands  of  Mr.  Figgins, 


Bosia,  who  could  not  afford  to  pay  for  a 
great  efert  to  puU  himself  together  for  the  strife,  but  hf 
dbrd  vrrj  wUteTand  his  teed?  chattered  audibly. 

•K  *•*••*•  !•.»,!>•,     1.  ••.!—  *    ____  »  _  ?^  „  ,1  «1-^,  ;„  .!•,« 

Mow.  staves,  begin,    fummruvtne  jnoge. 

linker  gave  a  semi-savage  3Pcfl,  just  to  encourage  his  op- 


C3 


ami  then,  with  a  most  ferocious  giin  on  his  lU^k. 


Bosja,  sored  out  of  his  wits,  struck  wildly  at 

llii  ill  hail in  contact  with  nothing  but  air, 


Tinker  gave  him  a  sEgfat  prod  with  Ins  sabre's  point  in  the 

i  of  his  ^"WJ'  breeches. 
felt  it,  and 


62  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

The  crowd  applauded. 

Tinker  hopped  round  him  as  nimbly  as  a  tomtit  or  a 
jackdaw,  and  presently  gave  him  another  little  taste  of  his 
steel. 

Bosja,  fully  impressed  with  the  idea  that  he  was  bleeding 
to  death,  began  to  grow  desperate. 

Grasping  his  scimitar  more  firmly,  he  rushed  in  at  his 
sable  antagonist,  but  Tinker,  by  a  skilful  manoeuvre,  locked 
his  hilt  in  that  of  his  foe's  weapon,  and  wrested  it  from  his 
hand,  following  up  his  advantage  with  a  smart  tap  on  Bosja's 
skull  with  the  flat  of  his  blade. 

This  was  a  settler  for  the  Turk,  who,  under  the  pleasing 
conviction  that  his  brains  were  knocked  out,  uttered  a  piteous 
groan,  and  fell  fainting  on  the  ground. 

The  spectators  did  not  appear  to  relish  the  defeat  of  their 
countryman,  and  loud  murmurs  of  discontent  burst  forth,  in 
the  midst  of  which  the  bashaw  rose. 

"  Stop  the  fight,  and  arrest  the  murderer,"  he  cried. 

Several  of  the  soldiers  and  a  few  of  the  spectators  advanced 
with  alacrity  to  obey  the  order,  but  Tinker  suddenly  de- 
livered one  of  his  startling  war  whoops  and  flourished  a  glit- 
tering scimitar  in  each  of  his  hands. 

Everyone  stopped. 

It  seemed  prudent  to  do  so,  for  the  negro  grinned  and 
gnashed  his  teeth  like  a  dark  demoniac,  as  he  sharpened  his 
weapons  one  upon  the  other,  preparatory  to  some  deadly 
•work  of  destruction. 

Having  performed  this  operation,  he  cried — 

"  Now  de  amputashun  goin'  to  begin ! "  and  uttering 
another  terrible  yell,  dashed  in  amongst  the  guards. 

The  soldiers,  astonished  and  appalled,  dropped  their 
weapons  and  fled  from  the  court,  calling  upon  the  Prophet 
to  save  them  from  the  wild  fiend. 

Having  got  rid  of  the  soldiers,  Tinker  tripped  up  Kallum 
Beg,  and  wresting  his  flute  from  his  hand,  helped  that  worthy 
individual  to  creep  out  on  his  hands  and  knees  by  the  whole- 
some stimulant  of  the  points  of  his  two  scimitars. 

Next  he  sprang  amongst  the  spectators,  shrieking  and 
flourishing  his  weapons. 

What  with  the  clash  of  the  steel  and  the  hideous  outcry  he 
made,  the  Moslem  crowd  were  beside  themselves  with  terror. 

Struggling,  shouting,  and  declaring  that  the  devil  himself 
Was  let  loose  among  them,  they  fought,  and  scratched,  and 


ffIS  SOY  TUfKEJL 


polled  off  turbans,  and  tumbled  over  each  othei  tiB 

r&-.cr.tc  "s  cocr. 

i  r.r  ;;un  wis  c.izrtz. 

AH  1    ill     1     li         iTITi  jiniifrnlaMifcn.    Ini  ilHT 


. 

congregated  round  the  judgment  seat,  bine  vitfa  tenor. 
---  1    r    '     in  Hi  i  •ii  iif  !•••!•  r 
"Allah  preserver!  "cried  the  potentate,  who  was 


hold- 

the  vmeraade  no  attempt  to  obey  his  superior. 
He  was  Jii^uig  to  another  vizier,  imploring  ADah  to  pt& 


Up  sprang  Tbker,  veOinc  and  waving  his  i 

lsptfl-cashunJstTingTashnntode'ole  lot 


'-'.:-.:-.:•        :     rented  upsn. 
'Look  after  the  cash-box,"  gupedtfce  bnbaw,  j 
died  down  the  steps. 

-;•--::.:    t ;.::'.:  T  :::~  _;  ever." -ing  but  their  cvn  pej- 
scr.'.l  *3.'e:v. 

The  cash  box  was  left  behind, 
Tinker  pounced  opon  it. 

-X)oray!»  he  shotrtcd,  I  T  lijihl  illi  ;  «hini  got  deflate 
and  de  cash-box  as  well    Cock-a-doodle-doo  1 " 
Quickasfightningberasbedtothedoor. 
At  the  entrance  be  encountered  the  bashaw,  who  bad  Si- 
oed  his  loss. 
Son  of  perdition,  give  me  my  property,"  he^cded, 


The  effect  was 

Down  went  the*  Cream  of  Justice'  and  the  "Flower  eC 
bdaa"  ji  ••rt»i  to  the  ground. 
Tinker  sprang  over  hia,  and  honied  away  with  the  i 
of  a  deer. 


The  orpbaa  had  long  since  taken  bis  fi& 

I  _:.-.:  .    :  _:-    :  •  :v."r  f  -    :v  -•-  '  •-        - 
telBBCoH  not  what  lie  prized  more-his 


flute, 


64  YOUNG  JA  CK  tfARKA  WA  Y  AND 


CHAPTER  LXVII. 

MR.  MOLE'S  LETTER — A  TRIP  ASHORE — THE  TURKISH  BAZAAR 

A  MUSSULMAN  SLIPPER  MERCHANT WONDER  ON    WONDERS 

BY  THE   PIPER   THAT  PLAYED     BEFORE   MOSES,    AN   IRISH 

TURK. 

IT  is  now  high  time  to  give  Mr.  Mole's  letter  which  threw 
young  Jack  Harkaway  and  his  friend  Harry  Girdwood  into 
such  a  state  of  excitement. 

Here  it  is  verbatim. 

"  MY  DEAR  BOY  JACK, — The  prolonged  silence  you  have 
kept  has  rendered  your  absence  a  matter  of  serious  moment 
to  us  all  here,  and  to  me  more  than  all ;  I  can  bear  it  no 
longer.  I  intend  to  come  in  search  of  you  and  see  for  my- 
self what  keeps  your  tongue  tied.  Ah,  I  mean  to  rout  you 
out  and  give  a  sharp  eye  to  your  shortcomings.  Expect  me 
then  soon,  for  I  hope  to  run  athwart  you,  yardarm  and 
yardarm,  as  an  old  salt  we  once  knew  used  to  say. 
"  Believe  me,  my  dear  Jack, 

"  Ever  sincerely  yours, 

"  ISAAC  MOLE. 

"P.S. — I  am  told  that  the  native  liquors  where  you  are 
staying  are  more  cheering  than  inebriating  in  their  effects. 
This  will  suit  me  capitally  ;  but  as  you  and  your  companions 
may  find  sherbet  rather  thin  diet,  I  shall  bring  with  me  a 
bottle  or  two  of  something  with  a  more  decided  flavour." 

"  I  tell  you  what,"  said  Jack  to  his  comrade  Harry,  "  we 
shall  have  to  look  out  for  poor  old  Mole.  We  must  send 
word  back  by  special  courier,  that  he  may  know  what 
direction  we  have  taken." 

Messages  were  sent  by  sure  hands  to  the  different  stations 
which  they  had  made  upon  their  journey,  to  guide  Mr. 
Mole  to  the  place  Jack  and  Harry  were  stopping  at. 

"  Meanwhile  my  only  recommendation  is,  young  gentle- 
men, that  you  don't  get  yourselves  embroiled  in  any  way 
with  the  native  folks  here  any  more.  The  Mussulmen  are 
fierce  and  fanatical,  and  the  least  provocation  may  make 
them  burst  out  into  wildness. " 


aiS  BOY  TINKER.  65 

The  speaker  was  Captain  Deering,  and  the  occasion  of  it 
was  the  eve  of  another  projected  trip  by  Jack  Harkaway  and 

-  We  shan  be  careful,  captain,"  said  the  latter. 

"  Of  course,"  said  Deering,  with  a  merry  twinkling  in  his 
eye  ;  -  you  always  are." 

-Always." 

"  There's  not  much  to  fear,  captain,*  said  Jack,  lightly. 

"Oh,  yes,  there  is,"  responded  Deering,  quickly ;"  very 
much." 

"How?11 

"  Why,  very  fittie  wffl  provoke  a  Mussulman  when  be  has 
to  deal  with  a  Christian.** 

"  But  no  one  would  be  indelicate  enough  to  show  a  want 
of  respect  to  their  religions  scruples,0  answered  Harry. 

"I  don't  see  how  we  can  interefere  with  them  at  all,"  said 
Jack.  "Why  should  the  question  of  religion  be  raised?" 

"Not  by  you,**  returned  Captain  Deering,  "  but  by  them, 
for  they  wfll  at  any  time  unite  to  fall  upon  an  unlucky 
Christian  if  opposed  to  a  Mussulman  in  a  dispute,  should 
the  Turk  choose  to  invoke  their  aid  against  the  unbelievers, 
as  they  stigmatise  the  Christians." 

"Well,  captain,*  said  Jack,  who  jibbed  at  being  lectured, 
"yon  need  not  fear  for  us ;  we  shall  be  careful  enough.* 

"No  doubt;  Master  Jack,"  returned  the  captain,  drily. 
**  You're  a  mild  spring  chicken,  you  are ;  it  is  only  that  wild, 
rampagious  companion  of  yours  that  I  want  you  to  look 
after." 

Sating  winch,  he  left  the  two  boys  to  their  own  devices. 

"That's  a  nasty  jar,"  said  Harry,  with  a  chuckle. 

Tinker  and  Bogey  were  their  only  companions. 

Jack  and  Harry  had  taken  the  orphan  once  more  under 
their  protection  since  his  narrow  escape  from  the  trial  he 
had  passed  through  with  the  bashaw,  and  hearing  from  the 
orphan  the  description  of  the  Turk  he  had  bought  his  dress 
from,  they  ranked  to  pay  him  a  visit. 

In  the  bazaar  there  were  Turks,  Greeks, 
Arabs,  and  a  motley  collection  of  coloured  people. 

The  Turkish,  dealers  sat  at  their  stalls,  poshing  trade  in  a 
taciturn  manner,  speaking  little,  is  is  true,  but  when  they 
did  make  a  remark,  it  was  to  tell  lies  with  earnest  gravity 
about  then- wares. 

"  If  yon  could  only  speak  Turkish  as  glibly  as  you  did  to 
5' 


66  YO  UNG  JA  CK  PI  A  RKA  WA  Y  AND 

Mr.  Figgins,"  said  Harry  Girdwood,  "  you  should  go  and 
cheapen  a  fez  for  me,  Jack." 

"  I  could  manage  that,  Harry,"  replied  Jack. 

"  No,  no,"  said  Harry ;  "  remember  what  the  poor  orphan 
suffered  through  buying  his  Turkish  dress." 

"  Bother  that,"  returned  Jack.  "  Let's  go  and  have  a 
lark  with  that  chap  selling  the  slippers." 

"  Be  careful." 

There  were  several  slipper  vendors  present. 

Jack  picked  up  a  pair  of  slippers  and  inquired  the  price. 

The  dealer  gave  him  an  odd  look. 

Jack  looked  round  to  Harry  Girdwood  for  assistance. 

"  I  can't  help  you,"  returned  Harry.     "  Ask  him  again." 

"  What's  the  figure,  old  Turkey  rhubarb  ? "  asked  Jack, 
bowing  as  if  paying  the  merchant  a  compliment. 

The  Turk  replied  with  the  same  gravity. 

"  He  don't  appear  to  understand,"  said  Harry  Girdwood. 
"  Try  him  in  St.  Giles's  Greek?" 

"  What's  the  damage  for  the  brace  of  trotter  boxes,  old 
Flybynight  ? "  demanded  young  Harkaway,  looking  as 
solemn  as  a  judge. 

The  Turkish  merchant  repeated  the  price  in  his  native 
tongue,  and  they  made  no  progress  in  their  deal. 

While  they  were  thus  engaged,  who  should  come  into  the 
bazaar  but  Nat  Cringle,  and  with  him  their  old  friend  the 
Irish  diver  ? 

"  I'll  put  it  to  him.  Mayhap  he'll  understand  me.  What 
an  illigant  ould  thafe  it  is,"  said  the  diver,  when  he  had 
waited  some  time  for  a  reply. 

"  Why  don't  ye  answer,  ye  dirrty  ould  spalpeen  ? "  he 
demanded,  after  a  pause.  "  Be  gorra,  av  ye  don't  sphake, 
I'll  give  ye  one  wid  my  twig." 

Saying  which,  he  flourished  his  shillelagh  before  the  slipper 
merchant's  face,  and  then  gave  him  a  smart  tap  on  his 
head. 

The  grave  old  Turk  then  found  his  tongue,  and  the  reply 
was  such  a  startler,  that  the  four  travellers  were  knocked 
off  their  moral  equilibrium. 

"  Tare  and  'ounds,  ye  blackyard  omadhauns  !  Ye  thavin' 
Saxin  vaggybones !  ave  ye'd  only  thread  on  the  tail  av  me 
coat,  so  as  to  give  me  a  gintlemanly  excuse  for  blackin'  yer 
squintin'  eyes,  I'd  knock  yez  into  next  Monday  week,  the 
blessed  lot  av  yez  !  " 


ffIS  BOY  TINKER.  6* 

The  four  visitors  stared  at  each  other  in  wonder. 

They  had  not  a  word  to  say  for  themselves. 

Xo  wonder  that  it  took  their  breath  away. 

The  Irish  diver  was  the  first  to  find  his  tongue. 

"  By  the  blessed  piper  that  played  before  Moses,  here's 
an  Irish  Turk!" 

"  Stop  that ! "  ejaculated  the  slipper  merchant ;  "  av  ye 
call  me  names,  111  have  a  go  at  yez  av  ye  was  as  big  as  a 
house." 

14  Ye're  Paddy  from  Cork,"  retorted  the  diver. 

"  Niver,"  protested  the  merchant,  stoutly. 

"  Get  along  wid  yez,"  retorted  the  diver,  "  ye  Mahommedan 
Mormonite ;  now  I'll  take  short  odds  to  any  amount  up  to  a 
farden  that  that  brogue  came  from  Galway.  Tell  the  truth, 
and  shame  the  ould  gintleman  as  shall  be  nameless." 

The  Turk  had  an  inward  struggle,  and  then  he  confessed* 
He  was  an  Irishman,  settled  for  some  years  in  Turkey. 

•  •  But  devil  a  word  must  ye  say.  Yell  spoil  me  shop  en- 
tirely," he  said,  Mav  the  folks  hereabout  takes  me  for  a 
Christian  gintleman,  and  I  shgll  be  kilt  intirely.1* 


CHAPTER  LXVIIL 

PADDY    MAHXOUD    PLAYS   THE    PASHA — LOCAL    STATISTIC*— 
VISIT  TO  THE  KONAKI — HOSPITALITY  VERSUS  AL  KORAN. 

THE  Irish  Turk  contrived,  after  some  talk,  that  our  friends 
should  procure  an  entry  into  the  palace  of  the  pasha. 

"  Back  stairs  infloonce,  me  boys,"  said  the  Irish  Turk, 
with  a  wink,  "  is  an  illigant  institooshn,  and  is  jist  as  privlint 
here,  sorrs,  as  it  is  in  St.  James's  or  at  the  castle." 

"How  do  you  work  it?" 

"  I  have  my  own  particular  pals,  which  shall  be  nameless, 
at  the  pasha's  palace." 

"Officers?" 

The  Irish  Turk  looked  very  demure  and  replied — 

"  Not  exactly  officers ;  officeresses.  ye  understand." 

"  You're  a  terrible  Turk,  Paddy,"  laughed  young  Jack. 

"When  shall  we  be  able  to  get  over  the  palace?0  de. 
manded  Harry  Girdwood. 


68  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"Come  to  me  in  the  course  of  to-morrow  afternoon,"  said 
the  Irish  Turk. 
«  We  will." 


This  arranged,  they  strolled  through  the  bazaar,  trading 
and  bartering  with  the  dealers,  and  making  an  odd  collection 
of  purchases,  to  take  home  as  curiosities. 

But  of  all  the  curiosities,  the  most  remarkable  was  perhaps 
a  pair  of  real  Egyptian  mummies,  which  they  discovered 
in  the  possession  of  a  shrewd  and  greedy  old  Arab. 

"  We  shall  have  quite  an  extensive  museum,"  said  Jack. 

"  Blessed  if  I  care  to  see  a  brace  o'  stiff  uns  on  board," 
growled  Nat  Cringle. 

"  We  shall  not  for  the  present  take  them  on  board,"  said 
Jack ;  "  we  shall  first  take  them  to  our  rooms.  We  shall 
find  some  use  for  the  mummies,  eh,  Harry  ?  " 

"  I  believe  you,  my  boy,"  said  Harry.  "  We'll  name  the 
mummies  Mole  and  the  orphan.  Ha,  ha !  " 

Well,  that  same  afternoon,  as  agreed  upon,  young  Jack 
and  Harry  Girdwood  presented  themselves  at  the  residence 
of  the  Irish  Turk,  Paddy  Mahmoud  Ben  Flannigan,  as  the 
boys  had  christened  him. 

They  had  got  themselves  up  a  la  Turc. 

Tinker  and  his  attendant  Bogey  were  also  suitably 
attired. 

They  found  the  Irishman  seated  upon  the  floor  with  his 
legs  under  him. 

He  arose  as  the  guests  entered,  and  advanced  to  greet 
them  politely. 

"  Make  yourselves  at  home,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  "  and  say 
what'll  ye  take  before  we  get  along." 

Jack  tipped  the  wink  to  his  companion. 

"  I'd  like  a  little  nip  of  something  to  cure  the  belly-ache," 
he  answered  slily. 

"  Ye  can  have  that  same,"  responded  their  host. 

He  went  to  a  cupboard,  and  produced  a  stumpy,  but 
capacious  bottle,  and  three  glasses. 

"  Whatever  is  that  ?  "  said  Harry,  in  affected  surprise. 

"  A  drop  of  the  crater,"  responded  Paddy  Mahmoud, 
pouring  it  out. 

"  Here's  your  health,"  said  Harry  Girdwood. 

The  two  lads  nodded  at  their  host,  and  sipped. 


ffJS  BOY  TINKER.  69 

The  Irish  Turk  tossed  off  his  whisky  at  a  gulp. 

"  When  shall  you  be  ready  to  go  up  to  the  palace  ? n 
asked  Jack. 

'*  All  in  good  time,"  returned  the  host.  "  In  the  first 
place,  it  is  not  called  the  palace." 

"What  then?" 

"  The  KonakL" 

"  Konaki ! " 

"  That's  it.  Now  I'll  show  you  exactly  how  to  conduct 
yourselves  when  you  are  presented  at  court,"  he  said. 

Three  servants  entered,  carrying  three  pipes,  each  of  the 
same  size,  and  each  having  jewelled  amber  mouth-pieces. 

The  servants  drew  themselves  up  like  automatons,  each 
placing  his  right  hand  on  his  heart. 

The  next  moment  they  were  inhaling  their  first  draught 
of  some  wonderful  tobacco,  the  host  keeping  up  the  tra- 
ditional Turkish  custom  of  puffing  half  a  minute  or  so 
before  the  guests. 

When  they  had  puffed  away  in  silence  for  some  little 
time,  the  servants  returned. 

One  of  them  carried  a  crimson  napkin,  richly  embroidered 
with  gold,  thrown  over  his  left  shoulder. 

And  others  carried  a  coffee  tray,  upon  which  were  cups  of 
elegant  filagree  work. 

Each  of  the  guests  were  presented  with  a  cup  of  coffee — 
not  very  nice  according  to  our  notions,  being  thick,  unstrained 
and  unsweetened. 

Yet  the  Turks  are  considered  the  only  people  who  really 
understand  the  art  of  making  coffee. 

This  disposed  of,  the  servants  retired. 

"  Now,"  says  the  host,  "  that's  just  what  yell  have  to  do 
when  you  go  up  to  the  Konaki,  to  be,  so  to  speak,  presented 
at  court.  When  you  go  visiting  his  excellency  the  pasha  on 
any  business,  no  matter  how  pressing  it  may  be,  you  mustn't 
speak  of  it  until  the  pipes  and  the  coffee  have  been  got 
through.  You  have  only  to  observe  this  little  customary  bit 
of  etiquette,  and  all  will  go  on  merrily  as  a  marriage  bell." 

"  Have  you  ever  seen  the  pasha  yourself  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"Often." 

"What's  he  like?" 

**  Every  inch  a  gentleman." 

This  rather  surprised  them. 

"  Now  let's  come  off,  and  you  shall  see  over  the  Ronald." 


YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 


CHAPTER  LXIX. 

THE  JOYS  OF  THE  SERAGLIO— A  GROUP  OF  PEEPING  THOMASES — 
THE  CIRCASSIAN  SLAVES — TINKER  AND  BOGEY  ARE  IN  FOR 
IT — THE  ALARM — ATTEMPTED  RESCUE — AWAY  WITH  THEM 
— THE  IRISHMAN  TELLS  A  FEW  WHITE  ONES  TO  A  PURPOSE. 

THE  slipper  merchant  had  selected  a  favourable  moment 
for  their  visit  to  the  Konaki. 

The  pasha — or  to  speak  more  correctly,  the  pasha's  deputy, 
for  it  was  the  deputy  that  had  imposed  upon  the  poor  orphan 
— was  absent  from  the  house  temporarily,  and  so  they 
were  able  to  walk  about  whither  they  listed,  thanks  to  the 
backstairs  influence  of  which  their  friend  and  guide  had 
boasted. 

The  head  of  the  pasha's  household  was  the  person  to  whom 
they  owed  this  unusual  privilege. 

There  was  not  a  great  deal  to  see  in  the  Konaki  now  that 
they  were  there,  and  their  visit  would  probably  have  been  cut 
very  short  had  they  not  been  attracted  by  sounds  of  distant 
music  just  as  they  were  upon  the  point  of  leaving. 

"  What's  that  ? "  said  Jack. 

"That's  from  the  seraglio,"  returned  their  conductor; 
"  some  Circassian  girls  that  have  just  been  sent  as  a  present 
to  the  pasha  are  very  clever  dancers,  it  is  said." 

Jack  pricked  up  his  ears  at  this. 

"  Come  on,"  he  said,  moving  forward  briskly. 

"  To  this  seraglio  ? " 

"  Aye." 

"  Why,  you  rash  boy,"  said  the  Irish  Turk,  with  a  fright- 
tened  look,  "  do  you  know  what  you  are  talking  about  ? " 

"  Well,  yes,  I  think  so,"  said  Jack  ;  "  dancing  Circassian 
girls  and  the  seraglio  was  the  topic  of  the  conversation,  unless 
I  am  wandering  in  my  mind." 

"Faith,  ye  must  be  mad,"  said  the  Irishman,  gravely; 
"  why,  they'd  think  hanging  too  good  for  any  man  that  even 
looked  at  the  harem." 

"  So  should  I,"  returned  Jack  ;  "  I've  no  wish  to  be  hanged ; 
it's  too  good  for  me.  Come  on." 

"  Don't  be  foolish ;  it's  death,  if  we're  caught." 

"All  right,"  said  Jack,  cheerfully;  "it's  sure  then  that  we 


HIS  BOY  TIA'A'EX. 


7- 


musto't  be  caught,  but  I  don't  mean  to  miss  the  chance  all 
'.he  same/* 

The  Irishman  resisted  stoutly. 

But  Jack  was  more  obstinate  than  he  was,  and  so  the 
Irishman  was  forced  to  yield  a  point. 

-  I  know  where  there's  a  gallery  that  overlooks  the  harem, 
and  you  can  see  all  the  fun  of  the  fair  without  being  observed." 

"  You  seem  to  know  the  place  very  well,"  said  Jack. 

"Very." 

"But  of  coarse  you  have  never  been  to  this  identical 
gallerv  before  ?  "  said  Tack,  innocently. 

"Never— never." 

His  eagerness  to  impress  this  upon  them  told  its  own  tale. 

"  I  should  think  thaf  s  true,  Jack,"  said  Harry,  demurely. 

"Oh,  yes,  quite,"  said  Jack,  winking  at  Harry. 

The  Irishman  led  the  way  along  a  paved  passage,  at  the 
end  of  which  was  an  arched  entrance  to  an  apartment,  closed 
off  only  by  a  heavy  curtain. 

"  You  see  that  curtain  ?  »  whopercd  tfaek  guide. 

-Yes." 

-  That's  the  harem." 

"Come  on,  then,*  said  Jack,  eagerly. 

-  Stop,  stop!  "exclaimed  the  Irishman.    "  The  other  side 
of  the  curtain  are  two ** 

Before  he  could  complete  the  sentence,  the  curtain  was 
dragged  aside,  and  two  armed  negroe 

Their  appearance  was  sudden  and 

Each  earned  a  drawn  sword,  a  scimitar  of  formidable  size. 

They  looked  about  as  ugly  customers  as  you  would  wish 
to  see. 

•  Two  eunuchs/*  whispered  the  Irishman,  "  they  are  guard- 
ing the  seraglio.     Come  away." 

"Ugly  «W"gti  for  heathen  gods,"  whispered  Harry  Gird- 
wood. 

The  two  eunuchs  stood  like  statues  on  guard. 

The  slipper  merchant  said  something  to  them  in  Turkish 
which  appeared  to  satisfy  them. 

"Massa  Jack,"  whispered  Tinker,  who  was  one  of  the 
party,  tugging  at  his  young  master's  sleeve,  *  Massa  Jack." 

"What  now?" 

*  Dat  one  ob  de  beasts  what  chuck  de  pusson  in  de  water 
alive  in  de  sack,  sar." 

*  What! "  ejaculated  Harry  Gtrdwood. 


72  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  Pack,  Massa  Harry,"  said  Tinker,  stoutly.  "  Guess  I 
know  dat  ugly  brack  niggar,  sar,  a  tousan'  mile  off — beast !  " 

"  Come  on.  Don't  appear  to  notice  them,"  said  the  Irish- 
man. **  It's  awkward  work  now.  If  they  had  half  a  suspi- 
cion, they  would  drop  on  us  right  and  left,  and  not  leave  a 
limb  on  either  one  of  our  blessed  bodies." 

He  led  the  way  until  they  came  to  a  gallery  that  overlooked 
the  seraglio. 

Their  leader  now  warned  them  to  keep  silent. 

In  the  chamber  below  were  about  a  dozen  Turkish  ladies, 
all  unveiled. 

They  were  all  gorgeously  attired,  and  lolling  about  in  in- 
dolent attitudes,  as  if  life  were  an  indescribable  bore  to 
them. 

Upon  a  square  fringed  carpet  in  the  middle  of  the  room  a 
Circassian  girl  of  rare  beauty  and  perfect  symmetry  was  glid- 
ing through  a  graceful  dance,  to  a  low,  melodious  measure, 
which  another  girl  of  her  own  country  was  chanting. 

The  dance  resembled  nothing  that  Jack  and  Harry  had 
seen  before. 

As  she  turned  round,  the  shawl  she  waved  was  made  to 
describe  a  series  of  circles. 

And  then,  as  she  came  to  a  sudden  stop,  it  fell  around  her 
in  graceful  folds  and  she  looked  like  a  very  beautiful  sculpt- 
ured figure. 

But  before  you  could  fairly  admire  her  graceful  form  and 
beauteous  face,  she  had  bounded  off  again  in  the  mazy  dance, 
to  the  intense  gratification  of  the  idle  lookers-on. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  that  ? "  whispered  the  Irishman. 

"  Lovely,"  returned  Jack,  enthusiastically. 

"  Beautiful,"  added  Harry  Girdwood.  "  What  would  little 
Emily  say,  Jack,  if  she  knew  you  were  looking  with  loving 
eyes  at  that  little  beauty  ? " 

The  mention  of  little  Emily's  name  made  Jack  silent  for  a 
minute  or  two. 

Presently  he  asked — 

"  Are  these  professional  performers  ? " 

"  The  dancer  and  the  singer  are  two  out  of  three  Circas- 
sian slaves  that  have  been  sent  to  the  pasha  as  a  present 
during  his  journey.  He  will  be  pleased  with  the  new  ac- 
quisition when  he  returns,  although  one  has  met  an  untimely 
end." 

"  Slaves  1     Is  it  possible  ? "  said  young  Jack. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER. 


73 


"  Rather,  my  boy." 

"  What  will  they  do  with  these  slaves  ?  " 

"  Various  things.  Perhaps  keep  them  to  amuse  the  ladies 
of  the  harem,  as  you  see  now ;  perhaps  make  them  beasts  of 
burden  ;  perhaps  make  more  wives  of  them.  His  excellency 
is  not  particular  to  a  wife  or  two." 

"  He's  a  beast !  "  said  young  Jack ;  "  and  I  should  like  to 
kick  him." 

"  Gently,  gently ;  it's  the  system  of  the  country,  dear  boys, 
nothing  more." 

"  But,"  said  Jack,  "  when  you  speak  of  the  Circassian  girl 
being  sent  as  a  present  to  the  pasha,  do  you  mean  the  real 
pasha  or  the  deputy  ?  For  this  Turk  is  the  one  that  cheated 
the  poor  orphan  out  of  his  money." 

"  This  is  only  the  deputy ;  I  mean  the  pasha  himself," 
returned  the  Irish  Turk.  "  The  deputy  would  like  to  appro- 
priate the  slaves  himself." 

"Do  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  I  know  it,  and  he  does  not  mind  what  you  would  call 
murder  now  and  then." 

"  Perhaps  that  would  account  for  what  we  saw  in  the  bay, 
for  the  horrible  business  with  the  sack." 

"  More  than  likely,"  said  the  Irish  Turk,  gravely.  "  But 
a  slave,  more  or  less,  even  if  it's  a  lovely  girl,  doesn't  count 
for  much  in  these  parts." 

The  boys  gave  a  shudder. 

They  were  not  used  to  hearing  murder  discussed  in  such 
a  cold-blooded  fashion. 

"  Tinker,"  said  Jack,  by  way  of  changing  the  topic  sud- 
denly, "do  you  think  that  you  or  Bogey  could  dance  like 
that  girl  ?  " 

**  Go  an'  dance  like  dat,"  he  said  contemptuously.  "  Me 
an*  dat  nigger  dance  a  lot  better,  sar.  Bogey  ! " 

"Wall!" 

"  Over  wid  you." 

And  then,  to  the  surprise  and  dismay  of  all  the  rest,  the 
two  darkeys  vaulted  over  the  balustrade  and  dropped  into 
the  room  beneath. 

Had  a  bombshell  fallen  into  the  midst  of  the  ladies  of  the 
harem,  they  could  not  have  been  more  surprised. 

There  was  a  half-stifled  shriek  from  one,  and  they  all  flew 
into  a  corner,  where  they  stood  huddled  up  together  for 
protection. 


74  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

But  Tinker  and  his  man  were  not  at  all  put  out  by  these 
strange  demonstrations  upon  the  part  of  the  ladies. 

"  Bogey." 

"  Yes,  Massa  Tinker." 

"  We'll  jest  take  the  floor  togeder  and  show  dem  female 
gals  what  de  poetry  of  motion  is  like." 

"  Yah,  yah  !  "  grinned  Bogey ;  "  go  it,  my  hunkey  boy." 

And  they  did  go  it. 

There  was  not  much  of  the  poetry  of  motion  about  it,  their 
dance  being  of  the  breakdown  genus. 

And  to  tell  the  truth,  the  ladies  appeared  more  frightened 
than  pleased  with  the  darkeys'  extraordinary  evolutions. 

The  double  shuffle  excited  wonderment. 

When  Bogey  and  Tinker  brought  down  their  respective 
hoofs  with  a  bang,  great  alarm  was  manifested. 

By  degrees,  however,  they  appeared  to  grow  more  accus- 
tomed to  the  eccentric  evolutions  of  the  young  negroes, 
and  presently  one  of  them  laughed  aloud  at  the  quaint 
capers  the  boys  were  cutting. 

This  set  them  all  laughing,  and  the  mirth  of  the  ladies  was  at 
its  height,  when  certain  alarming  sounds  were  hes^J  without. 

"  By  the  holy  fly,"  ejaculated  the  Irishman.  "  there's  a 
row  in  the  house,  and  our  frisky  black  boys'll  lose  their 
lives  if  they  don't  watch  it." 

"  What's  the  matter?"  demanded  young  Jack. 

"  The  deputy-pasha  is  back,"  whispered  the  Irishman,  in 
evident  anxiety.  "  He  has  discovered  the  presence  of  stran- 
gers in  the  house.  He's  coming  along  here  with  his  guards, 
and  there'll  be  the  very  devil  to  pay." 

"  What,  about  Tinker  and  Bogey  ? " 

"  They're  dead  as  door-nails.  There  is  an  unwritten  law 
which  sentences  any  man  to  death  who  violates  the  sanctity 
of  a  Turkish  harem." 

"  Why  don't  they  run  out?"  inquired  Harry,  anxiously. 

"  What  for  ?  To  be  cutdown  by  the  armed  eunuchs.  No ; 
better  take  their  chance  where  they  are." 

"  I'm  not  going  to  leave  them  to  die,"  said  Jack ;  "  I'll 
have  a  shy,  for  it,  if " 

"  Hold  your  tongue,"  interrupted  the  Irishman,  anxiously  ; 
"  but  look,  what  the  dooce  are  the  girls  up  to  with  your  black 
boys  ?  " 

Tinker  and  Bogey  laboured  under  a  very  great  disadvan- 
tage. 


BIS  BOY  TINKER.  75 

They  could  neither  understand  nor  make  themselves 
understood  by  the  fair  creatures  by  whom  they  were  sur- 
rounded. 

However,  they  managed  to  glean  that  they  were  in  danger, 
and  that  a  temporary  haven  of  safety  was  to  be  found  in  an 
inner  room  beyond  the  curtain  facing  the  chief  entrance,  which 
was  guarded  by  the  two  eunuchs. 

They  were  bustled  into  that  apartment  by  the  ladies  of  the 
harem  to  a  chorus  of  excited  whisperings. 

"  Whatever  are  they  going  to  do  ?  "  whispered  Jack. 

"Silence,  not  a  word.  Look  there!"  said  the  Irish 
Turk. 

The  heavy  drapery  before  the  chief  entrance  was  drawn 
aside,  and  in  marched  the  fierce-looking  Turk,  that  had  tried 
to  rob  the  orphan  and  his  cash-box,  closely  followed  by  the 
two  eunuchs,  who  stood  sentry  at  the  doorway. 

"  Now,  there'll  be  the  devil  to  pay,"  whispered  the  Irish- 
man. 

Osmond,  the  ruling  bashaw  for  the  time,  had  heard  that 
strangers  were  within  the  palace,  and  he  hurried  there  with  all 
speed. 

When  first  he  was  apprised  of  this,  his  greed  excited  him, 
for  some  of  the  chief  sweets  of  his  office  were  the  presents. 

The  deputy-pasha  was  ready  to  accept  as  many  as  he  could 
send. 

"  Strangers  are  present,"  he  exclaimed,  addressing  one  of 
the  favourite  ladies ;  "  now,  by  the  beard  of  the  Prophet,  the 
intruders  shall  suffer ! " 

"  What  intruders  ?  "  said  the  lady. 

The  deputy-governor  made  towards  the  curtain. 

But  before  he  could  enter,  the  lady  with  whom  he  had  been 
talking  placed  herself  in  his  way. 

"  Stand  aside " 

"  Restrain  your  temper  here,"  returned  the  lady  ;  "  his  ex- 
cellency would  not  be  pleased  to  hear  of  this." 

These  words  appeared  to  cool  the  ferocity  of  the  deputy- 
governor  a  little. 

"  Let  the  strangers  come  forth  then,"  he  growled. 

"  It  shall  be  done." 

She  passed  to  the  further  chamber. 

A  few  moments  later  the  curtain  was  dragged  aside,  and 
the  two  fair  Circassians  came  forth,  each  leading  a  veiled 
girl  by  the  hand. 


76  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARKA  WAY  AND 

Strapping  girls  they  were  too ;  but  so  closely  veiled  that 
it  was  impossible  to  see  what  their  features  were  like. 

"  Were  these  the  strangers  ? " 

"  Yes." 

The  deputy-governor  glared  at  the  new-comers,  and  then 
dismissed  the  Circassian  girls. 

They  refused  to  go  at  first,  upon  which  he  grew  rabid  with 
anger. 

"  Your  sister  Selika  opposed  my  wishes  once,"  he  said, 
with  cruel  significance;  "she  will  never  oppose  me  more. 
Begone ! " 

They  tremblingly  obeyed  the  tyrant. 

This  done,  he  sent  the  two  armed  eunuchs  off  with  a  wave 
of  the  hand. 


"  What's  up  now,  I  wonder  ?  "  whispered  Jack. 

"Wait." 

The  Irishman  had  an  odd  suspicion. 

And  his  suspicion  was  very  soon  realised. 


"  Remove  your  veil,"  said  Osmond,  the  deputy-pasha, 
peremptorily. 

But  he  might  as  well  have  addressed  a  stone  wall. 

The  tyrant  waited  a  moment. 

Then  he  seized  one  of  the  girls  and  dragged  her  aside, 
tearing  down  her  veil  as  he  did  so,  and — 

Oh,  what  a  roar. 

A  wild  ejaculation  of  disgust  escaped  him,  for  the  face 
under  the  veil  was  black. 

Black  as  night,  with  huge,  saucer-like  eyes,  and  a  huge 
mouth  wearing  a  grin  that  was  alarming. 

"  Yah,  yah  !  don't  you  like  me,  old  man  *  Tink  I  do  for 
you?  Yah,  yah  !  " 

And  Tinker  stood  with  his  tongue  out,  grinning  at  the  fierce 
Turk. 

The  deputy-governor,  enraged,  made  a  rush  at  poor  Tinker, 
and  gave  him  a  spiteful,  if  undignified  back  hander. 

"  Golly !  "  cried  Tinker.  "  Cantankrous  immense  beast, 
old  Turkey." 

"Oh!" 

Just  then  the  tyrant  was  greeted  with  a  stinging  spank  on 


ffIS  BOY  TINKER. 


77 


the  side  of  his  face,  and  turning  round,  there  was  another 
negress — as  he  thought. 

Or  was  it  the  same  ? 

It  looked  the  very  identical  face  and  form. 

"  Yah,  yah ! "  grinned  Bogey. 

The  deputy-governor  looked  round  with  a  puzzled  air. 

"  Yah,  yah ! "  grinned  Bogey,  again. 

"  Yah,  yah !  "  shouted  Tinker,  poking  his  fist  into  the  ribs 
of  the  Turk,  and  nearly  doubling  him  up. 

The  Turk  heard  the  derisive  laugh,  and  he  felt  the  tin- 
gling of  his  ear  and  the  poke  in  his  ribs. 

So  he  dashed  at  Bogey  first 

Bogey  feinted  and  dodged  him. 

But  his  petticoats  got  between  his  legs,  and  over  he  went 
sprawling. 

The  Turk  sprang  after  him,  and  if  Tinker  had  not  been 
there,  goodness  knows  what  would  have  been  the  result 

But  Tinker  was  very  much  there. 

He  bobbed  his  head  and  shot  straight  forward,  landing  his 
deputy-excellency  fairly  in  the  stomach,  with  his  bare  woolly 
pate. 

"  Ugh  !  "  gasped  the  Turk,  and  down  he  went 

Bogey  no  sootier  saw  him  there  than  he  hammered  into 
the  Turk's  figure-head  in  the  most  violent  and  ungentlemanly 
way. 

Jack  and  Harry  Girdwood  laughed  until  the  tears  ran  down 
their  cheeks. 

"  Begorra,"  whispered  the  Irishman,  "  it's  better  than  a 
pantomime,  but  some  of  us  will  suffer." 


But  the  end  of  the  adventure  promised  to  be  serious. 

The  fierce  Turk  grew  frightened,  and  he  called  for  assistance 

In  came  the  armed  eunuchs  ready  for  slaughter. 

"  Good-bye  to  your  boys,"  said  the  Irishman,  in  a  whisper 

"  Not  if  I  know  it,"  returned  Jack ;  **  I'm  on  in  this  scene, 
old  man." 

"  I'm  with  you,  Jack,"  cried  Harry. 

Jack  was  in  danger.     Over  went  Harry  to  help  him. 

The  fierce  Turk  was  filled  with  wonder  and  dismay;  the 
enemies  appeared  to  drop  from  the  clouds. 

u  Now,  old  big  bags,"  said  young  Jack,  saucily,  "  come  on, 
and  see  how  a  Boy  of  England  can  fight" 


7  8  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

The  words  were  not  intelligible  to  the  Turks,  but  the  gest» 
ure  was  thoroughly  understood. 

There  was  a  gong-bell  close  beside  the  deputy-pasha,  and 
one  tap  on  this  sufficed  to  bring  a  whole  mob  of  armed  men 
into  the  room. 

"  Seize  these  Franks  !  "  exclaimed  the  tyrant,  still  holding 
his  hands  round  his  sides  in  pain  ;  "  they  have  earned  their 
fate.  Let  it  be  swift.  Away  with  them — oh,  I  am  nearly 
killed — away  with  them  !  " 

They  resisted  stoutly  enough,  fought  like  tiger-cats ;  but 
what  was  the  use  ? 

None  whatever. 

The  Irishman  waited  to  hear  an  ugly  order  given  anent  bow- 
stringing,  and  then  he  came  down  stairs,  and  made  his  way  ark 
fully  (so  that  his  presence  in  the  gallery  overlooking  the  se- 
raglio might  not  be  suspected)  to  the  corridor,  where  he  once 
more  discovered  the  two  armed  eunuchs  on  guard,  looking  like 
ebony  statues  again,  and  as  calm  as  if  they  had  never  taken 
part  in  the  short  but  stirring  scene  just  described. 

"  I  wish  to  see  his  excellency  the  pasha,"  said  he,  "  for  I 
came  here  conducting  two  young  Englishman,  of  great  dis- 
tinction, who  brought  some  rich  presents  to  his  excellency." 

One  of  the  men  went  in,  and  brought  out  the  tyrant. 

To  him  the  Irishman  repeated  his  tale  with  an  extravagant 
show  of  respect  and  deference. 

"  Are  these  the  two  Franks  ?  "  demanded  the  Turk. 

He  gave  the  word  as  he  spoke,  and  out  from  the  seraglio 
marched  Jack  and  Harry  Girdwood,  their  arms  tightly  bound 
to  their  sides,  between  a  strong  escort  of  armed  men. 

"  Yes,  excellency,"  answered  the  Irishman. 

"Then  they  have  been  there,"  returned  the  deputy-pasha ; 
"  you  know  what  that  means  ?  " 

"  They  have  erred  through  ignorance,  your  excellency." 

"  Then,"  replied  the  Turk,  with  vindictive  significance, 
"  within  an  hour  they  will  grow  wiser.  Away  with  them  !  " 

And  the  prisoners  were  all  marched  away. 

"  Begorra,"  muttered  the  Irishman  to  himself,  "  it's  all 
up." 

But  he  never  relaxed  his  efforts  for  all  this. 

"  Pardon,  O  excellency,"  he  said,  "  but  these  young  gentle- 
men who  have  offended  through  ignorance,  being  princes  ot 
the  royal  blood  of  Britain,  their  continued  absence  will  lead 
to  inquiries,  and " 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  79 

"  They  shall  die  like  dogs  if  they  are  kings,"  growled  the 
deputy-pasha, 

"  Let  me  entreat  humbly  that  you  wait  the  return  of  his  ex- 
cellency, for  these  Franks  are  but  savages,  and  the  least  slight, 
even  to  their  princes,  would  bring  their  ships  of  war  along 
our  coast ;  the  town  would  be  razed  to  the  ground." 

"  Ships  of  war !  "  responded  the  deputy-pasha. 

"  Yes,  excellency,"  continued  the  Irishman,  with  a  fright- 
ened air,  seeing  the  slight  advantage  he  had  got  now.  ~  the 
ship  they  came  in  is  now  nearing  the  coast.  It  b  well  within 
range,  with  the  cruel  engines  of  war  these  barbarians  use.  I 
tremble  for  the  Konaki." 

"  They  would  never  dare " 

"  Pardon,  they  would  dare  any  thing.  The  death  of  the  two 
princes  of  the  blood  royal  would  be  the  signal  for  the  first 
shot,  and  then  good-bye  to  us  all." 

The  deputy-pasha  paused. 

The  Irishman  eyed  him  askance. 

"  Begorra ! "  he  muttered  to  himself,  "  that  ought  to  be 
sthrong  enough  for  him.  Them  boys  have  made  me  tell 
enough  lies  in  ten  minutes  to  last  a  Turk  himself  a  lifetime. 
Be  jabers,  I've  pitched  it  sthrong  with  a  purpose.  He  who 
hesitates  is  lost.  He  is  thinking  better  of  it." 

The  Irishman  was  right. 

"  I  will  reflect,"  said  the  Turk,  with  a  dignified  air ;  "  I 
may  not  spare  their  lives,  but  possibly  await  the  return  of 
his'highness  the  pasha." 

The  Irishman  was  dismissed. 

He  bowed  and  retired. 


CHAPTER  LXX. 

OSMOND  AND   LOLO   THE   SLAVE — THREATS    AND    DEFIANCE 

teat.  CIRCASSIAN'S  DOOM — OSMOND  EARNS  HIS  REWARD. 

THE  three  Circassian  slaves  had  been  sent  as  a  present  to 
the  real  pasha,  Osmond's  master,  by  some  friendly  Algerian 
prince,  and,  arriving  in  the  absence  of  the  pasha,  the  deputy 
had  cast  greedy  eyes  upon  the  rich  prize. 

Finding  all  his  authority  was  lost  upon  the  Circassians  girls, 
who  stoutly  refused  to  be  persuaded,  he  grew  vicious. 


8o  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

Nothing  was  positively  known,  but  the  tragedy  which  Jack 
and  Harry  Girdwood  had  witnessed  hard  by  the  water-gate 
of  the  Konaki,  coupled  with  the  recognition  of  the  two  eunuchs 
by  Tinker  as  the  two  assassins  whom  he  and  Bogey  had  cap- 
sized into  the  water,  made  matters  look  altogether  very  sus- 
picious indeed. 

The  few  threatening  words  which  Osmond  had  muttered 
to  one  of  the  fair  Circassians,  too,  should  have  told  their  own 
tale. 

The  Circassian  girls  had  endeavoured  to  screen  those 
luckless  negroes,  Tinker  and  Bogey,  for  had  they  not  led 
the  boys  into  the  presence  of  Osmond  disguised  as  girls  ? 

Here,  then,  was  a  pretext  for  further  ill-usage  of  the  un- 
fortunate slaves. 

The  girls  were  brought  into  the  tyrant's  presence. 

"  Stand  out,  deceitful  and  faithless  slave,"  he  said,  ad- 
dressing one  of  the  girls ;  "  you  are  accused  of  treason  to 
the  pasha,  and  you  know  your  fate." 

The  girl  addressed  made  no  reply  but  by  a  bold,  defiant 
glance. 

"  You  are  to  die,"  said  Osmond,  watching  the  effect  of  his 
words  as  he  spoke. 

The  girls  did  not  move  nor  utter  a  word. 

"  You  know  now  my  power,"  he  went  on  to  say  in  a  low 
tone.  "  You  have  one  chance  of  life  yet ;  would  you  know 
what  that  is?" 

He  waited  for  an  answer. 

He  waited  in  vain. 

The  proud  Circassian  girls  did  not  deign  to  notice  him. 

"  You  remember  what  I  told  your  sister  ? "  he  said.  "  Re- 
consider what  I  said,  and  it  may  not  yet  be  too  late." 

"  We  do  not  need  to  speak  again,"  returned  one  of  the 
girls.  "  What  we  have  already  said  is  our  resolve." 

"  Death !  "  hissed  the  Turk,  between  his  teeth. 

He  eagerly  watched  for  the  terror  his  words  should  have 
produced. 

"  Sooner  death  ten  hundred  times,"  returned  the  Circassian 
proudly,  "than  acknowledge  you  for  our  master." 

"  You  have  spoken,"  exclaimed  the  Turk,  fiercely. 

He  struck  a  bell,  and  one  of  the  armed  eunuchs  entered. 

"  Remove  these  slaves  to  the  cells  as  I  told  you ;  there 
they  will  remain  until  nightfall.  You  understand  me  ? " 

The  man  placed  his  finger  upon  his  lip — a  sign  of  implicit 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  8 1 

obedience — and  the  Circassian  slaves  were  removed  to 
prison. 

They  were  doomed. 

Another  tragedy  was  planned — the  sequel  to  that  which 
Harry  Girdwood  and  young  Jack  had  witnessed  almost  as 
soon  as  they  were  upon  the  Turkish  coast. 

The  cord  and  sack  were  once  more  to  play  their  part. 

And  could  nothing  avert  their  fate  ? 

Their  peril  was  extreme — greater  even  than  that  of  the 
English  lads  and  their  faithful  followers,  Tinker  and  Bogey. 


"  This  is  a  pretty  go,"  said  Harry  Girdwood,  dolefully, 
as  he  looked  round  him. 

His  tone  was  so  grumpy,  his  look  so  glum,  that  Jack 
could  not  refrain  from  laughing. 

"  Grumbling  old  sinner,"  said  he :  '*  you're  never  satis- 
fied." 

"Well,  I  like  that,"  said  Harry.  "You  get  us  into  a 
precious  hobble  through  sheer  wanton  foolery,  and  then 
you  expect  me  to  like  it." 

"  Now,  don't  get  waxy,"  said  Jack. 

Tinker  and  Bogey  did  not  understand  the  full  extent  of 
their  danger. 

They  sat  at  the  further  end  of  the  same  chamber,  grinning 
at  their  masters,  and,  if  the  truth  be  told,  rather  enjoying 
the  dilemma  which  they  were  honoured  by  sharing  with 
them. 

Their  masters  would  be  sure  to  pull  them  all  through 
safely. 

Such  was  their  idea. 

As  soon  as  they  had  been  left  alone  in  their  prison,  the 
boys  had  made  a  survey,  and  Jack  pronounced  his  opinion, 
and  his  determination  with  the  old  air  of  confidence  in 
himself. 

"They're  treating  us  with  something  like  contempt, 
Harry,"  he  said. 

"How  so?" 

"  By  not  guarding  us  better  than  this,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  don't  quite  see  that,  Jack ;  the  door  would  take  us  all 
our  time  to  get  through." 

"  Perhaps,"  returned  Jack,  "  but  look  at  the  window,  and 
just  tell  me  what  >ou  think  of  that  ? " 
6 


8z  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

The  window,  or  perhaps  we  had  better  have  said  hole  in 
the  wall — for  glass  or  lattice  there  was  none — overlooked 
the  sea. 

They  were  in  the  part  of  the  Konaki  known  as  the  water 
pavilion. 

There  was  a  drop  of  thirty  feet  to  the  water. 

Thirty  feet. 

Just  think  what  thirty  feet  is. 

About  the  height  of  a  two-story  dwelling  house. 

"  Supposing  we  get  through  there,"  said  Harry  Girdwood, 
"  we  should  never  be  able  to  swim  all  the  way  out  to  a 
friendly  ship. 

"  My  dear  old  wet  blanket,"  returned  Jack,  "  I  got  you 
into  this  mess,  and  I'll  get  you  out  of  it." 

"  I  hope  so." 

They  watched  anxiously  for  a  friendly  ship. 

At  length  their  vigil  was  rewarded  with  success. 

A  big  ship  sailed  into  the  bay  with  the  British  colours 
flying  at  her  masthead. 

They  almost  shouted  with  joy  at  the  sight. 

"  That's  a  deuce  of  a  way  off,"  said  Harry  Girdwood. 

"  About  a  mile." 

"  A  mile  is  a  precious  good  swim,"  grunted  Harry. 

"  So  much  the  better.  These  villanous  old  Turks  won't 
be  suspicious,  and  a  mile  isn't  much  for  either  of  us,  I  think. 
I  don't  mind  it,  and  we  can  answer  for  Tinker  and  his  prime 
minister." 

"  Dat's  so,"  said  Bogey,  grinning  from  ear  to  ear.  "  Yah, 
yah !  Me  and  Tinker  swim  with  Massa  Harry  and  Jack  on 
our  backs." 

At  dusk  they  matured  their  plan  of  action. 

Tinker  could  float  on  the  water  like  a  cork,  and  was  the 
swiftest  swimmer  of  the  four. 

Tinker  was,  therefore,  lowered  as  far  down  as  they  could 
manage,  and  then  allowed  to  drop  into  the  water. 

It  was  a  drop  ! 

"  Fought  dis  chile  was  gwine  on  dropping  for  a  week,  sar," 
said  the  plucky  young  nigger,  subsequently. 

However,  once  he  was  on  the  surface,  and  got  his  wind 
well,  he  darted  through  the  water  like  a  fish. 

They  watched  his  dusky  form  until  they  could  see  him  no 
more. 

"  Now,  Bogey." 


HIS  SOY  TINKER.  83 

"  Ready,  sai." 

He  was  lowered  and  dropped  the  same  as  Tinker,  and 
speedily  was  upon  the  tetter's  track. 

"  Now  my  turn,"  said  Jack.     "  I  shall  go  in  for  a  header." 

"  Don't,"  said  Harry.  "  You'd  never  come  up  alive  if  you 
went  down  head  first  from  this  height." 

And  Jack  was  dissuaded  from  this  purpose. 

He  squeezed  his  body  through  the  aperture. 

"  Give  me  your  hand,  Harry,  while  I  look  over." 

His  comrade  obeyed,  and  Jack  was  able  to  see  about  him. 

Now  on  his  left,  not  more  than  ten  feet  down,  was  a  large 
doorway,  with  a  flap  similar  to  the  doors  on  the  water-side 
warehouses,  in  London,  from  where  the  stores  are  lowered 
and  raised  from  the  barges  by  means  of  an  iron  crane. 

"  I  wonder  what  place  that  is  ? "  said  Jack ;  "  if  I  could 
only  reach  it,  my  fall  would  be  very  considerably  broken." 

He  had  a  try. 

They  fastened  their  two  scarves  together,  and  Harry, 
making  himself  a  secure  hold  above,  lowered  Jack,  and  the 
latter  swinging  backwards  and  forwards  twice,  dropped  the 
second  time  fairly  on  the  ledge. 

It  was  a  perilous  hold. 

But  Jack  was  only  second  to  Nero  in  monkey  tricks,  and 
he  held  on  in  a  most  tenacious  manner. 

Swinging  himself  up  he  pushed  his  way  into  a  dark  and 
gloomy  place. 

A  low  vaulted  chamber,  dimly  lighted  by  a  flickering  old 
lamp. 

"  Where  am  I  now? " 

Before  he  could  look  further  to  get  an  answer  to  this 
question,  he  was  startled  by  the  sound  of  footsteps. 

What  should  he  do  ? 

Leap  out  ? 

Or  should  he  wait? 

He  decided  to  wait. 

He  crept  up  into  a  corner,  the  darkest  he  could  find,  and 
there,  with  a  beating  heart,  he  awaited  the  progress  of 
events. 

He  hrnd  not  long  to  wait. 

Two  dusky  forms  glided  spectrally  into  the  place,  one 
bearing  a  lamp. 

With  this,  they  looked  about,  and  Jack,  with  a  sinking  at 
heart,  recognised  the  two  eunuchs  again. 


8  4  YO  UNO  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"  What  devilment  are  they  working  now  ? "  thought  Jack. 

They  flashed  the  light  just  then  upon  the  objects  of  their 
search. 

Two  huge  sacks  lay  upon  the  floor. 

Jack  but  imperfectly  discerned  what  they  were ;  but  a 
sickening  dread  stole  over  him,  as  the  two  eunuchs  raised  one 
of  the  sacks  from  the  floor,  and  bearing  it  to  the  window, 
while  its  contents  writhed  and  struggled  desperately,  hurled 
it  out. 

A  stifled  groan. 

A  shriek. 

A  splash. 

Jack  could  hear  no  more. 

He  was  about  to  dart  out  from  his  hiding-place  upon  those 
black-hearted  wretches,  when  a  third  person  stepped  into 
the  chamber. 

He  said  something  to  the  two  men — a  few  sharp  words  in 
an  authoritative  tone — and  they  retired. 

Jack  recognised  the  voice  in  an  instant. 

It  was  Osmond. 

"  What  is  he  up  to  now  ? "  muttered  Jack,  to  himself. 

A  scene  of  intense  excitement  followed. 

The  Turk  unfastened  the  cord  which  fastened  the  neck  of 
the  second  sack,  and  dragged  it  open. 

Then,  raising  the  sack  on  end,  he  proceeded  hastily  to 
drag  it  down,  revealing  in  the  dim  light  the  well-remembered 
form  of  one  of  the  Circassian  girls. 

"  Lolo,"  said  Osmond,  "  I  come  to  give  you  one  last 
chance." 

"  I  defy  and  despise  you  !  "  said  the  girl. 

"  Reflect." 

"  I  have." 

"  You  know  well,  as  I  have  seen  again  and  again  by  your 
looks,  that  I  do  not  hate  you " 

"  Would  you  have  me  love  the  murderer  of  my  sister  ? " 

"  Silence,  slave  !  " 

"  I  fear  not  your  menaces,"  retorted  the  brave  girl ;  "  you 
must  have  seen  that.  The  triumph  is  yours  now — mine  is 
to  come." 

"When?" 

"  Hereafter.  Murder  is  against  your  creed  as  it  is  against 
mine.  Do  your  worst." 

Jack  listened. 


THE  BOY  TINKER.  85 

Osmond  seized  the  girl  by  the  wrist 

But  she  twisted  himself  free  from  his  clutch  without  any 
particular  effort. 

Thereupon  the  Turk,  with  a  growl  of  rage,  drew  his  sword, 
and  would  have  cut  her  down. 

But  Jack  could  stand  no  more. 

Bounding  forward  from  his  hiding-place,  he  seized  the 
uplifted  hand  and  wrenched  the  sword  from  his  grasp. 

Then,  without  a  word,  Jack  struck  the  man  with  the  flat 
of  his  sword  upon  the  back  of  the  head. 

The  Turk  sank  to  the  ground  with  a  hollow  groan. 

It  was  all  so  momentary  that  the  beautiful  Circassian  girl 
looked  on  as  one  in  a  dream. 

Hearing  footsteps  now,  Jack  ran  to  the  doorway  and 
peered  out. 

"  Quick ! "  exclaimed  Jack.  "  Lend  me  a  hand,  or  we  are 
lost." 

She  could  not  understand  his  words,  but  his  meaning  wa.» 
plain  enough. 

They  pulled  the  body  into  the  sack  as  quickly  as  possible. 

Then  they  hastily  tied  the  cord  around  the  neck  of  it. 

This  done,  Jack  extinguished  the  lamp. 

There  was  no  time  to  be  lost 

He  took  the  girl  by  the  hand,  and  pulled  her  back  into 
the  nook  where  he  had  been  hiding,  just  as  the  two  villanous 
eunuchs  entered  the  chamber. 

The  two  eunuchs  came  slowly  along  the  corridor. 

Finding  the  place,  as  they  thought,  deserted,  they  simply 
raised  the  sack  from  the  ground,  thinking  the  body  of  the 
young  Circassian  girl  was  in  it,  and  bore  it  to  the  opening. 

One  swing  and  over  it  went. 

As  it  fell,  a  hollow  groan  came  from  the  sack. 

The  two  men  stared  at  each  other  aghast,  and  looked  over 
the  opening. 

But  before  they  could  utter  a  word,  a  stealthy  form  had 
crept  up  behind  them,  and  with  a  vigorous  drive,  hurled 
them  both  over  after  the  sack. 

A  wild,  despairing  yell,  and  the  waters  dosed  over  these 
wholesale  butchers. 


86  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 


CHAPTER  LXXI. 

LOLO'S  GRATITUDE  AND  JACK'S  DELIGHT — THE  SIGNAL — UN- 
EXPECTED TURN  OF  LUCK — A  FAMILIAR  VOICE — WHO  IS 
IT  ? — "  SURELY  !  NEVER  !  " READ  AN±>  LEARN. 

"  THAT'S  a  good  job  done  !  "  said  Jack,  looking  after  the 
wretches  he  had  pushed  over. 

The  fair  Circassian  burst  into  tears  now  that  the  peril  was 
over. 

Falling  upon  her  knees,  she  seized  Jack's  hands  and 
pressed  them  to  her  lips. 

She  poured  out  a  long  string  of  thanks  in  the  most  elo- 
quent language. 

Although  the  language  was  so  far  wasted  upon  Jack,  he 
could  not  fail  to  comprehend  her  meaning. 

"There,  there,"  said  Jack,  squeezing  her  hand  in  reply 
to  her  caresses,  "don't  take  on  so,  my  dear  girl.  The 
danger's  over  now." 

But  was  it  ? 

They  had  yet  to  get  away. 

Jack  was  no  worse  off  than  when  in  his  prison  ten  feet 
higher  up,  it  is  true. 

But  what  of  Lolo  ? 

How  was  she  to  manage  ? 

While  he  was  cogitating  over  this  he  heard  a  shrill  whistle 
from  below. 

He  ran  to  the  window. 

"  Hist,  Jack  !  "cried  a  familiar  voice  from  the  water. 

"  Hullo ! " 

"  Drop  down,  Jack,"  returned  Harry's  voice.  "  Here  I 
am,  in  a  boat,  as  snug  as  a  domestic  pest  in  a  railway 
wrapper." 

Comic  and  tragic  were  so  jumbled  up  in  this  startling  series 
of  adventures,  that  Jack  scarce  knew  whether  to  laugh  or  to 
cry. 

He  did  neither. 

There  was  a  rope  close,  handy  upon  a  sack — its  destina- 
tion had  certainly  not  been  to  save  life — and  Jack,  with  the 
quickness  of  thought  itself,  fastened  it  around  the  Circas- 
sian girl's  waist. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  87 

She  understood  his  meaning,  and  lent  him  all  the  assist- 
ance she  could. 

Once  at  the  window,  he  fastened  it  securely,  and  pro* 
ceeded  to  lower  it  down- 
She  looked  down  the  dizzy  height,  and  slightly  shud- 
dered. 

And  then,  before  trusting  herself  down,  she  threw  her  arms 
around  her  young  preserver's  neck,  and  embraced  him  ten- 
derly. 

"  Bless  you,"  said  Jack,  with  emotion.  "  If  I  only  bring 
you  safe  through  this,  it  will  be  the  proudest  day  in  my  life." 

Now  for  it. 

It  was  a  perilous  moment,  for  the  poor  girl  could  not  help 
herself  in  any  way. 

But  she  was  lowered  in  safety. 

"  Look  out,"  said  Jack,  in  a  good  loud  whisper  ;  **  I'm 
coming  now." 

**  Look  sharp,  then,"  called  out  Harry.     "  I  smell  danger." 

"  Make  haste,  dear  boy,"  added  a  familiar  voice. 

The  sound  thrilled  Jack  strangely. 

He  was  so  full  of  the  present  adventure  and  its  perils, 
that  he  could  not  give  much  thought  to  the  voice  now. 

Yet  it  rang  on  his  ears  as  of  old  days. 

u  You're  nearly  down,"  said  Harry  Gird  wood.  "  Drop  now, 
old  fellow." 

Jack  obeyed. 

As  soon  as  he  reached  the  boat,  he  was  seized  in  the  arms 
of  the  Circassian  girl,  Lolo,  who  hugged  'him  as  if  she 
would  never  part  with  him  again. 

"Now,  my  love,"  said  that  same  familiar  voice,  "when 
you've  done  with  that  boy,  I  should  like  to  have  one  touch  at 
him.  What  do  you  say,  Jack,  my  lad  ?" 

"Heaven  above!"  ejaculated  Jack  «*\Vhy,  it's  Mr. 
Mole." 

-  Right,  dear  boy,"  returned  Mr.  Mole.  "  Isaac  Mole  him- 
self, turned  up  in  the  very  nick  of  time.  God  bless  you, 
Jack." 

"  And  you,  too,  sir.  How  are  they  all  at  home  ?  My 
mother,  my " 

"  There,  there,"  interrupted  Harry ;  "  well  have  the  family 
history  when  we're  fairly  out  of  musket-shot  range.  If  they 
find  out  any  thing,  they'll  pot  us  off  as  easily  as  shooting  for 
nuts  at  a  fair." 


88  YO  UNO  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"  All  right,"  said  Jack,  laughingly.     u  Pull  away," 
"  Pull  away,  boys." 
"  Aye,  aye,  sir. 

They  had  a  good  boatload,  yet  they  moved  through  the 
water  pretty  smartly. 


The  vessel  which  had  anchored  in  the  bay,  and  which 
showed  the  British  ensign  at  her  masthead,  was  the  iden- 
tical ship  that  our  old  friend  Mr.  Mole  had  come  in. 

The  messages  that  they  had  sent  bank  to  the  different 
stations  upon  their  journey  had  been  successful  in  guiding 
Mr.  Mole  aright,  happily  enough. 

They  had  barely  cast  anchor,  when  Mr.  Mole  had  been 
lowered  in  a  boat,  his  intention  being  to  come  ashore,  and 
get  information,  if  possible,  regarding  the  object  of  hi? 
cruise. 

But  little  did  he  think  of  picking  up  his  information  in  the 
water. 

Yet  such  was  the  case. 

When  half-way  to  shore,  they  came  upon  Bogey  swim- 
ming swiftly  along. 

A  few  words  of  hurried  explanation  sufficed,  and  the  as- 
tounded Mole  had  the  boat  pulled  flush  up  beneath  the 
windows  of  the  Konaki,  first  rescuing  Harry  Girdwood  and 
then  Lola  the  Circassian  girl,  and  Jack,  as  we  have  de- 
scribed. 


CHAPTER  LXXII. 

THE  PICNIC — FIGGINS  AGAIN  IN  TROUBLE. 

AFTER  Jack  had  placed  the  beautiful  girl  in  safety,  he 
arranged  for  Mr.  Mole  to  tell  him  the  news  from  home. 

"  Your  dear  father  and  mother  are  in  a  woeful  state  about 
you,  Jack,"  said  Mole. 

"  Why  ?  "  asked  young  Jack. 

"  I  don't  like  beginning  with  reproaches,  my  boy,"  returned 
Mr.  Mole,  "  but  I  must,  of  course,  tell  you.  Your  little  ex- 
travagances have  been  troubling  your  father  a  great  deal." 

"  I  can  throw  some  light  on  that  subject,"  replied  Jack. 


ff/S  BOY  TINKER.  89 

"  I  have  been  robbed.  Cheques  have  been  stolen  from  my 
book,  and  my  signature  forged." 

Mr.  Mole  looked  grave. 

"  Is  this  the  fact  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Of  course.  However,  we  need  not  go  further  into  that 
just  now.  Give  me  the  news.  How  is  Emily  ?  " 

"Very  well  in  health,  but  spirits  low — sighing  for  her 
Jack,"  said  Mole,  wickedly. 

"  Did  she  tell  you  so  ?  "  demanded  Jack 

u  Not  exactly,  but  I  can  see  as  far  through  a  stone  wall  as 
most  people." 

u  Yes,  sir,  I  believe  you  can,"  said  Jack.  «  That  is  about 
the  limit  of  your  powers  of  observation." 

"Ha,  ha!"  laughed  Mr.  Mole.  "But  I  know  how  to 
comfort  Emily,  dear  girl.  She'll  be  quite  resigned  to  your 
prolonged  absence  when  she  gets  news  of  you.  I  have  al- 
ready written  home  to  explain  the  odd  circumstances  under 
which  I  met  you — that  you  were  shut  up  in  some  dark  room 
with  a  lovely  Circassian  girl,  and  that  you  subsequently  res- 
cued her,  and  how  very  fond  of  you  the  lovely  Circassian 
seems,  and " 

"  I  wish  you  would  only  meddle  with  affairs  that  concern 
you,  Mr.  Mole,"  said  Jack,  stiffly.  "  I  don't  want  you  to  fur- 
nish information  to  any  body  about  my  movements." 

-Very  good,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  "I  won't,  then.  I 
thought  I  might  send  a  second  letter,  to  say  that  I  was  quite 
sure  you  did  not  care  a  fig  for  the  lovely  Circassian." 

Jack  thought  that  this  might  be  a  desirable  move,  and  so 
he  tried  to  square  matters  a  bit. 

"  Do  so,  and  I  will  be  your  friend,"  he  said, 

"  Consider  ft  done,"  exclaimed  Mole.  "  I  like  you  as  I 
did,  and  do,  your  father,  bat  I  must  have  my  joke." 


The  perilous  adventures  which  our  friends  had  encoun- 
tered on  their  expedition  did  not  deter  them  from  further 
enterprises. 

Only  two  days  after  the  events  just  recorded,  Jack's  party 
set  out  on  a  picnic  excursion,  to  examine  the  beauties  of  the 
surrounding  neighbourhood. 

It  was  not  towards  the  desert  that  they  directed  their 
steps  this  time,  but  in  the  opposite  direction. 


90  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

Mr.  Figgins,  upon  this  journey,  showed  his  usual  talent  for 
getting  into  scrapes. 

On  passing  under  a  group  of  fine  fig-trees,  nothing  would 
suit  him  but  he  must  stand  upon  his  mule's  saddle  in  order 
to  reach  some  of  the  fruit. 

As  he  was  still  not  high  enough  to  do  this,  he  made  a 
spring  up  and  caught  one  of  the  lower  branches,  to  which 
he  clung. 

Suddenly  the  mule,  we  know  not  from  what  cause,  bolted 
from  underneath,  leaving  the  luckless  orphan  suspended. 

Mr.  Figgins  soon  relinquished  the  search  in  his  anxiety  for 
his  own  safety. 

He  saw  beneath  him  a  descent  of  some  ten  feet,  and  at  the 
bottom  a  dense  bed  of  stinging-nettles. 

How  was  he  to  get  down  ? 

Dropping  was  out  of  the  question,  for  it  would  be  like  a 
leap  into  certain  torture. 

However,  Harkaway  called  out  to  him  to  hold  on,  but  not 
so  loudly  as  Figgins  bawled  all  the  while  for  help. 

Meanwhile,  Bogey  and  Tinker  had  started  after  the  escaped 
mule,  which  they  found  some  difficulty  in  capturing. 

When  it  was  at  length  secured,  the  animal  was  placed  in 
his  former  position  under  the  tree,  and  firmly  held  by  the  two 
negroes. 

"  Now  let  yourself  down,  Figgins,"  cried  Jack  ;  "  drop 
Straight  and  steady." 

Figgins  tried  his  best  to  obey. 

When  he  let  go  the  branch,  it  rebounded  with  a  force  that 
threw  him  out  of  the  perpendicular,  and  instead  of  landing 
upon  the  mule's  back,  he  fell  and  landed  on  the  bed  of  sting- 
ing nettles. 

The  orphan  roared  lustily — as  indeed  well  he  might — for, 
besides  being  shaken  by  the  fall,  the  pain  he  soon  felt  in 
every  portion  of  his  frame  exposed  to  the  nettles  was  excru- 
ciating. 

When  the  party  emerged  from  the  forest,  a  scene  of  un- 
usual beauty  broke  upon  their  vision. 

"  This  is  a  charming  spot,"  observed  Harkaway. 

"  And  just  the  thing  for  a  picnic,"  added  Harry.  "  I  vote 
we  halt  under  those  trees  and  begin  operations." 

Hampers  were  then  unpacked,  bottles  uncorked,  and  ap- 
plication made  to  a  pure  stream  of  water  which  flowed  near 
the  spot. 


fffS  BOY  TINKER.  91 

At  length  all  was  ready. 

Poor  orphan,  the  first  mouthful  he  took  seemed  to  consist 
of  cayenne  pepper. 

The  cup  of  water,  to  which  he  naturally  applied  for  relief, 
also  appeared  to  have  been  tampered  with,  for  it  tasted  as 
salt  as  the  briny  ocean  itself. 

Next,  and  also  naturally,  he  drew  forth  his  pockethand- 
kerchief,  but  ere  he  could  carry  it  to  his  mouth,  dropped  it 
in  haste  and  with  a  cry  of  horror,  for  it  contained  an  enor- 
mous frog,  which,  in  its  struggles  to  escape,  fell  plump  into 
his  plate. 

Mr.  Mole  laughed  loudly,  whereat  Mr.  Figgins  was  natu- 
rally offended  at  the  schoolmaster,  and  began  to  suspect  that 
it  was  he  who  had  been  playing  these  practical  jokes  upon 
him. 

Bogey  and  Tinker,  the  real  promoters  of  the  orphan's  dis- 
comfiture, observed  this  with  great  inward  mirth,  but  they 
soon  afterwards  got  into  a  little  trouble  themselves. 

Harkaway,  turning  suddenly  round,  discovered  the  two 
black  imps  making  sad  havoc  with  the  sweets. 

"  You  young  scoundrels,"  shouted  Jack,  angrily  grasping 
his  riding-whip  ;  **  take  your  fingers  off  that  jam  pot  imme- 
diately." 

u  I  was  on'y  a-openin'  it,  sar,  ready  for  de  company,"  ex- 
claimed the  unabashed  Tinker. 

"  What's  that  you  have  in  your  hand,  Bogey  ?  "  proceeded 
Harkaway,  alluding  to  something  which  the  darkey  was  hid- 
ing suspiciously  behind  him. 

••  Only  a  bit  o'  bread  I  brought  in  my  pocket,  sar,"  was 
the  reply. 

"  Show  it  us,  then,  directly,  sir." 

Bogey  accordingly  produced  a  crust  from  apparently  a  loaf 
of  the  week  before  last,  but  while  doing  so,  Jack's  sharp  eyes 
detected  that  the  nigger  dropped  some  other  eatable,  in  his 
hurried  endeavour  to  ram  it  into  his  pockets  unseen. 

"  There,  our  large  currant  and  raspberry  tart  !"  exclaimed 
Harkaway.  "  You  artful  monkey,  I  owe  you  one  for  this, 
and  I  mean  to  pay  you  now." 

Darting  at  them,  Jack  just  managed  to  give  Bogey  and 
Tinker  a  cut  each  on  the  shoulders  with  his  whip  as  they 
nimbly  scampered  off,  both  bellowing  as  though  they  were 
being  murdered. 

But  rapid  as  was  the  action,  Nero  saw  an  opportunity  in  it 


g2  YOUNG  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

whereof  he  took  advantage,  for  he  pounced  upon    the  well- 
bitten  tart,  and  bore  it  away  in  triumph. 

This  episode,  however,  was  soon  forgotten,  and  Mole  began 
to  relate  adventures  of  himself  which  would  have  done  credit 
to  Baron  Munchausen,  while  Figgins,  not  to  be  outdone,  told 
wonderful  stories  of  high  life  in  which  he  had  been  personally 
engaged. 


CHAPTER  LXXIII. 

OF  THE  DEADLY  QUARREL  AND  MORTAL  COMBAT  BETWEEN 
MOLE  AND  FIGGINS. 

"  ONE  day,"  began  Mr.  Figgins,  after  a  pause,  "  I  was  driv- 
ing along  Belgravia  Crescent  with  Lord — bless  me  1  which 
of  'em  was  it  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  it  was  Lord  Elpus,"  suggested  Harkaway. 

"  Or  Lord  Nozoo  ? "  said  Girdwood. 

"  Are  you  sure  he  was  a  lord  at  all,  Mr.  Figgins  ?  "  asked 
Mole,  dubiously. 

"  Mr.  Mole,"  said  the  orphan,  indignantly ; "  do  you  doubt 
my  veracity  ? " 

"  Not  a  bit,"  answered  the  schoolmaster,"  but  I  doubt  the 
voracity  of  your  hearers  being  sufficient  for  them  to  swallow 
all  you  are  telling  us." 

"  Well,  gentlemen,"  pursued  Figgins,  turning  from  Mole 
in  disgust,  "  this  Lord  Whatshisname  used  to  have  behind 
his  carriage  about  the  nicest  little  tiger  that  ever  was 
seen " 

"  Nothing  like  the  tiger  I  saw  in  Bengal  one  day,  I'm  sure," 
broke  in  Mr.  Mole,  in  a  loud  and  positive  tone.  "  Come, 
Figgins,  I'll  bet  you  ten  to  one  on  it." 

The  orphan  rose  to  his  feet  in  great  indignation. 

"  Isaac  Mole,  Esq.,  I  have  borne  patiently  with  injuries 
almost  too  great  for  mortal  man  throughout  this  day.  I  con- 
sider myself  insulted  by  you,  and  I  will  have  satisfaction." 

"  Well,  old  boy,  if  you  just  mention  what  will  satisfy  you, 
I'll  see,"  said  Mole. 

"  Nothing  short  of  a  full  and  complete  apology." 

"  You  don't  get  that  out  of  me,"  the  schoolmaster  scorn. 
fully  retorted.  "  Preposterous.  What  I,  Isaac  Mole,  who 


ffIS  BOY  TINKER. 


93 


took  the  degree  at  R  A.  at  the  almost  infantine  age  of  fhirty 
four,  to  apologise  to  one  who  is " 

u  Who  is  what,  sir  ?  "  demanded  Figgins. 

"  Never  mind.  I  don't  want  to  use  unbecoming  expres- 
sions,'1 said  Mole.  **  You  wouldn't  like  to  hear  what  I  was 
going  to  say." 

The  orphan  was  so  angry  at  this  that,  unheeding  what  he 
was  doing,  he  drank  off  nearly  a  tumblerful  of  strong  sherry 
at  once. 

This,  coming  on  the  top  of  other  libations,  made  the  whole 
scene  dance  before  his  bewildered  eyes. 

He  began  to  see  two  Moles,  and  shook  his  fist,  as  he 
thought,  upon  both  of  them  at  once. 

"  I  d — don't  care  for  either  of  you,"  he  exclaimed,  fiercely. 

"  Either  of  us  ?  For  me,  I  suppose  you  mean  ?  "  said  the 
tutor. 

"  Which  are  you  ? "  asked  Figgins. 

u  Which  are  who  ?  "  retorted  Mole. 

**  Why,  there  are  two  of  you,  and  I  wa — want  to  know 
which  is  the  right  one,"  said  Figgins. 

"  I'm  the  right  one.  I  always  am  right,"  said  Mole,  aggres- 
sively. "  You  don't  dare  to  imply  I'm  wrong,  do  you  ?  " 

**  Won't  say  what  I  imply,"  answered  Figgins,  with 
dignity ;  u  but  I  know  you  to  be  only  a " 

"  Stop,  stop,  gentlemen,"  cried  Jack.  "  Let  not  discord 
interrupt  the  harmony  of  the  festive  occasion.  Mr.  Mole, 
please  tone  down  the  violence  of  your  language.  Mr.  Fig* 
gins,  calm  your  agitation,  and  give  us  a  song." 

"  A  song  ?  "  interrupted  Mr.  Mole,  taking  the  request  to 
himself.  "  Oh,  with  pleasure." 

And  he  struck  up  one  of  his  favourite  bacchanalian  chants — • 

"  Jolly  nose,  Jolly  nose,  Jolly  nose  ! 
The  bright  rabies  that  garnish  thy  tip 
Are  all  sprang  from  the  mines  of  Canary, 
Are  all  sprung—" 

"  There's  no  doubt  upon  their  being  all  sprung  anyhow," 
whispered  Harkaway  to  Girdwood.  "  Stop,  stop,  Mr.  Mole," 
he  cried  at  this  juncture.  "  It  was  Mr.  Figgins,  not  you, 
that  we  called  upon  for  a  song." 

"  Was  it  ?  "  said  the  schoolmaster.    "  Very  good ;  beg  par 
don.    Only  thought  you'd  prefer  somebody  who  could  s 
Figgins  can't," 


94  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

Figgins  again  looked  at  Mole,  as  if  he  were  about  to  fly  at 
him. 

But  the  cry  of  "  A  song,  a  song  by  Mr.  Figgins  t "  drowned 
his  remonstrances. 

"  Really  do'no  what  to  sing,  ladies  and  gen'l'men,"  pro- 
tested Figgins.  "  Stop  a  minute.  I  used  to  know  '  My 
Harp  and  Flute.' " 

"  You  mean  '  My  Heart  and  Lute,'  I  suppose  ? "  said 
Jack. 

"  Yes,  that's  it.  And  I  should  remember  the  air,  if  I  hadn't 
forgotten  the  words.  Let's  see.  Stop  a  minute,  head's  rather 
queer.  Try  the  water  cure." 

Whereupon  Mr.  Figgins  staggered  to  the  adjacent  brook, 
and,  kneeling  down,  fairly  dipped  his  head  into  it. 

After  having  wiped  himself  with  a  dinner  napkin  he  rejoined 
the  party,  very  much  refreshed. 

"  Tell  you  what,  friends,  I'll  give  you  a  solo  on  the  flute," 
he  said.  "  Something  lively ;  '  Dead  March  in  Saul '  with 
variations." 

And  without  mere  ado,  he  took  up  his  favourite  instrument, 
and  prepared  to  astonish  the  company. 

If  Mr.  Figgins  did  not  succeed  in  astonishing  the  company, 
he  at  least  considerably  astonished  himself,  for  when  he 
placed  the  flute  to  his  lips  and  gave  a  vigorous  preliminary 
blow,  not  only  did  he  fail  to  elicit  any  musical  sound,  but  he 
smothered  and  half-blinded  himself  with  a  dense  cloud  of 
flour,  with  which  the  tube  had  been  entirely  filled. 

Bogey  and  Tinker,  as  usual,  had  been  the  real  authors  of 
this  new  atrocity,  but  Figgins  felt  convinced  that  the  guilt  lay 
at  the  door  of  Mole,  on  whom  he  turned  for  vengeance. 

"  Villain  !  "  he  cried,  "  this  is  another  of  your  tricks  ;  it's 
the  last  straw.  I'll  bear  it  no  longer ;  take  that." 

As  Mr.  Figgins  spoke,  he  struck  the  venerable  Mole  a 
sounding  whack  over  the  bald  part  of  the  cranium  with  the 
instrument  of  harmony. 

Mole  sprang  upon  his  legs  with  astonishing  alacrity,  and, 
seizing  Figgins  by  the  throat,  commenced  shaking  him. 

A  ferocious  struggle  ensued,  among  the  remonstrances  of 
the  spectators,  but,  before  they  could  interfere,  it  ended  by 
both  combatants  coming  down  heavily  and  at  their  full  length 
on  the  temporary  dinner-table,  and  thereby  breaking  not  a 
-few  plates,  bottles,  and  glasses. 

Helped  to  rise  and  seated  on  separate  camp-stools,  some 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  95 

fcstance  apart,  the  two  former  friends,  but  now  mortal  foes, 
as  soon  as  they  could  get  their  breath,  sat  fiercely  shaking 
fists  and  hurling  strong  adjectives  at  each  other. 

"  111  have  it  out  of  you,  you  old  villain  !  "  cried  Mole. 

"  And  I'll  have  it  out  of  you,  you  old  rascal !  "  shrieked 
Figgins. 

"  We'll  both  have  it  out,"  added  the  tutor,  "  and  the  sooner 
the  better.  Name  your  place  and  your  weapons." 

"  Here,"  answered  Figgins,  pointing  to  an  open  space 
before  him,  "  and  my  weapon  is  the  sword." 

"  And  mine's  the  pistol,"  said  Mole.  "  I'll  fight  with  that, 
and  you  with  your  sword." 

"  Agreed,"  said  the  excited  Figgins,  quite  forgetting  the 
impracticability  of  such  an  arrangement  and  the  disadvan- 
tages it  would  give  him. 

Figgins  had  a  battered  sabre  of  the  light  curved,  Turkish 
make,  and  Mole  rejoiced  in  the  possession  of  a  very  old- 
fashioned  pistol. 

Mole  gave  the  latter  to  Girdwood,  who  volunteered  to  be 
his  second,  and  who  took  care  to  put  nothing  in  more  danger- 
ous than  gunpowder. 

u  Now  we're  about  to  see  a  duel  upon  a  quite  original 
principle,"  cried  Jack  to  his  friends.  "  I  don't  think  either 
of  them  can  hurt  the  other  much.  111  be  your  second, 
Figgins,  my  boy." 

"  All  right  I  take  up  my  position  here,"  cried  the  orphan, 
stationing  himself  under  a  tree  near  the  brook. 

"  I  shall  stand  here,"  said  Mole,  stopping  at  about  half  a 
dozen  paces  from  him. 

The  orphan  looked  as  though  he  intended  to  bolt  behind 
the  tree  if  Mole  fired. 

"  Well,  Master  Harry,  don't  be  in  a  hurry,"  said  Figgins. 
'*  I  am  not  quite  ready,  are  you,  Mr.  Mole  ?  " 

"  Oh  yes,"  said  Mole,  "  I  am  ready." 

He  fully  intended  to  blow  the  orphan's  head  off  the  first 
fire. 

"  I'll  give  the  signal  to  fire,"  said  Harry.  "  Now,  are  you 
ready ;  one,  two,  three  ! " 

Mole's  pistol-shot  reverberated  through  the  copse,  but,  as, 
a  matter  of  course,  it  did  not  the  slightest  harm  to  Figgins, 
who,  however,  thought  he  heard  it  strike  against  the  sabre 
which  he  held  in  a  position  of  guard. 

It  now  began,  for  the  first  time,  to  strike  the  orphan  that 


96  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

this  novel  mode  of  fighting  was  very  awkward  for  himself, 
for  how  was  he  to  get  at  his  enemy  ? 

At  first  he  poised  his  sword  as  if  about  to  fling  it  at  him, 
then  moved  by  a  sudden  impulse  he  rushed  forward,  with  a 
cry  of  vengeance,  and  began  attacking  Mole  furiously  with 
some  heavy  cutting  blows. 

Mole,  as  his  only  resource,  dodged  about  and  caught  some 
of  these  blows  upon  his  pistol,  but  judging  this  risky  work, 
he  took  up  his  stick  and  used  it  in  desperate  self-defence  ; 
thus  dodging  and  parrying,  he  retreated  while  Figgins  ad- 
vanced. 

Once  Mole  managed  to  get  what  an  Irishman  would  call 
"  a  fair  offer  "  at  Figgins'  skull,  which  accordingly  resounded 
with  the  blow  of  his  weapon. 

Half  stunned,  the  orphan  plunged  madly  forward  and  took 
a  far-reaching  aim  at  the  old  tutor. 

He,  in  his  turn,  dodged  again,  but  his  wooden  legs  not 
being  so  nimble  as  real  ones,  he  stumbled  over  some  tall, 
thick  grass,  and  fell  backwards  into  the  stream. 

Jack,  thinking  matters  had  gone  far  enough,  caught  the 
orphan's  foot  in  a  rope,  and  bent  him  so  far  forward  that  he 
overbalanced  himself  and  fell  on  top  of  Mole,  and  both 
tumbled  into  the  water  together. 

The  alarm  was  given,  and  they  were  both  drawn  out, 
"  wet  as  drowned  rats,"  but  not  quite  so  far  gone. 

They  were,  however,  entirely  sobered  by  their  immersion. 

A  small  glass  of  brandy,  however,  was  administered  to  each, 
to  prevent  them  catching  cold,  and  some  of  their  garments 
were  taken  off  to  dry  in  the  sun. 

Mole,  the  tutor,  and  Figgins,  the  orphan,  wearied  out 
with  their  exertions,  soon  fell  fast  asleep. 


CHAPTER  LXXIV. 

A  TREMENDOUS  RISE  FOR  MR.  MOLE. 

THE  quarrel  between  the  two  had  been  so  far  made  up, 
that  when  they  awoke  from  their  siesta,  and  the  fumes  of  the 
alcohol  had  subsided,  neither  of  them  seemed  to  remember 
any  thing  about  the  matter. 

The  party  got  safely  home  without  encountering  either 


HIS  BOY  TIXKER.  97 

robbers,  snakes,  wolves,  thunderstorms,  or  any  other  danger- 
ous being  or  foes  whatever. 

The  next  day,  however,  commenced  for  Mr.  Mole  an 
adventure  which  at  die  outset  promised  to  form  an  g«-itii^ 
page  in  his  life. 

He  was  walking  through  the  streets  and  bazaars  of  die 
town,  Jack  on  one  side  of  him,  Harry  on  die  other,  though 
the  reader,  at  first  glance,  would  probably  not  have  recognised 
any  of  them. 

Harkaway  and  Girdwood  presented  die  appearance  of 
Ottoman  civilians  belonging  to  die  ~  Young  Turkey  "  party, 
whilst  die  venerable  tutor  stalked  along  in  full  fig  as  a 
magnificent  robed  and  turbaned  Turk  of  die  old  school. 

It  had  become  quite  a  mania  widi  Isaac  to  turn  himself  as 
far  as  he  possibly  could  into  a  Moslem. 

He  had  taken  quite  naturally  to  die  Turkish  tobacco,  and 
die  national  mode  of  smoking  it  through  a  chibouque,  or 
water-pipe. 

But  in  outward  appearance  Mr.  Mole  had  certainly  suc- 
ceeded in  turning  Turk,  more  especially  as  he  had  fixed  on 
a  large  false  grey  beard,  which  matched  beautifully  widi  his 
green  and  gold  turban. 

He  had  again  mounted  his  cork  less,  and  encased  his  cork 


agan  mounte 
splendid-fitting 


feet  with  splendid-fitting  patent  leather  boots,  and  Mole  felt 


take  me  for  a  pasha  of  three  tails,  don't  you  think 
so  ?     he  ifo  "g" i ^sny  m»f  n  his  ixxnpjnKHis. 


Half  a  dozen  tails  at  least,  I  should  say,"  returned  Jack, 
"  and  of  course  diey  take  us  for  a  couple  of  your  confidential 
attendants.'' 

"  In  dial  case,  I  must  walk  before  you,  and  adopt  a  proud 
demeanour,  to  show  my  superiority,"  said  Mole. 

So  whilst  Jack  and  Harry  dropped  humbly  in  die  rear,  he 
strode  forward  widi  a  haughty  ft""*-"-  of  dignity*  which  his 
two  cork  legs  rather  enhanced  dian  otherwise. 

"Holloa!"  exclaimed  Harry,  suddenly;  "who's  diis 
black  chap  coming  up  to  us,  bowing  and  scraping  like  a 
mandarin?" 

He  alluded  to  a  tall  dark  man,  apparently  of  die  Arab 
race,  but  dressed  in  die  full  costume  of  a  Turkish  officer, 
who,  dismounting  his  horse,  Jiynufni'd  Mole  widi  die  most 
elaborate  Oriental  obeisances,  and  held  out  to  him  a  folded 


98  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

Mole  took  the  document  with  a  stiff  bow,  opened  it  and 
found  it  to  be  a  missive  in  Turkish,  which,  notwithstanding 
his  studies  in  that  direction,  he  could  not  for  the  world  make 
out. 

But  unembarrassed  by  this,  he  turned  to  Harry  Girdwood, 
and  making  a  gesture,  indicating  his  own  inability  to  read 
it  without  his  spectacles,  motioned  him  to  do  so  for  him. 

"  Good  Heavens !  "  exclaimed  Harry,  in  amazement.  "  It 
is  the  imperial  seal  of  the  Sultan.  Mole,  old  man,  you  have 
been  mistaken  for  a  pasha." 

"  Is  it  possible  ? "  cried  Mole ;  "  but  what  does  it  say  ? " 

"  Imperial  Palace,  Stamboul. 

"  In  the  name  of  Allah  and  the  Prophet. 

"  To  his  Excellency  Moley  Pasha. 

"  This  is  to  certify  that,  in  consequence  of  the  lamented 
death  of  Youssouf  Bey,  Pasha  of  Alla-hissar,  I  am  com- 
manded by  our  sublime  master  to  appoint  and  instal  you 
into  the  said  government  of  the  city  and  province  of  Alla- 
hissar.  Therefore  you  are  commanded  at  once  to  proceed 
thither,  under  an  escort  which  will  be  in  readiness  at  the 
door  of  your  hotel  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  after  you 
receive  this.  Given  at  the  Sublime  Porte  by  Ali  Hussein 
Pasha,  Grand  Vizier  to  His  Imperial  Majesty  the  Padishah." 

Mr.  Mole  turned  pale  with  anxiety. 

"  This  is  very  serious,"  he  exclaimed ;  "  but  I  fully  ex- 
pect to  become  a  king  before  I  die,  but  in  this  case,  what 
shall  I  do  ?  " 

"  Why,  become  a  pasha,"  said  Jack ;  "  it  will  be  worth 
your  while.  We'll  give  you  our  assistance." 

"  But  how  am  I  to  answer  the  messenger  ? "  asked  Mole. 

"  No  necessity  to  answer  him  ;  make  signs  that  you  obey 
the  sultan's  mandate  ;  you  know  how  they  do  it." 

Mole  accordingly  folded  the  firman  again,  placed  it  to  his 
forehead,  and  then  to  his  heart,  bowing  all  the  time  with  the 
most  profound  respect. 

The  messenger  evidently  quite  understood,  for  he  bowed 
too,  and  rode  away  rapidly. 

"  That's  what  you  call  having  greatness  thrust  upon  you, 
eh,  Mole  ? "  said  Jack. 

"  I  don't  much  care   about   it,"  answered  \he  tutor ;  "  I 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  99 

don't  believe  I  shall  be  able  to  carry  out  the  character  of  a 
pasha.  It's  a  dangerous  game." 

"  Nonsense,"  said  our  hero ;  "  if  they  choose  to  make  a 
mistake,  it's  their  lookout." 

"  I  shall  find  it  a  mistake  when  I  come  to  be  bowstringed, 
or  hanged,  or  shot,  or  something  of  that  kind,"  said  the 
tutor ;  "  but,  Jack,  my  dear  boy,  I  depend  upon  you  to  pull 
me  through." 

"  No  fear,"  answered  Jack ;  u  you're  a  great  man,  Mr. 
Mole,  and  no  doubt  the  authorities,  becoming  aware  of  your 
merits,  have  really  made  choice  of  you  as  the  governor  of 
the  pashalik." 

"But  they  must  know  that  I'm  not  a  Turk,"  objected 
Mole. 

«  That  doesn't  matter,"  said  Jack ;  "  not  only  Turks,  but 
Greeks,  Americans,  Italians,  French,  all  sorts  of  people  are 
in  power  in  this  country." 

The  excitement  of  the  moment  and  the  influence  of  some 
spirituous  liquid  he  had  taken  before  starting,  so  far  bewil- 
dered Mr.  Mole's  intellect,  that  he  actually  accepted  Jack's 
explanation. 

"  Hang  it,  I  will  be  pasha,"  he  cried ;  "  and  risk  alL 
Haven't  I  got  the  sultan's  own  firman  ?  "  and  he  flourished 
that  important  document  round  his  head  in  the  most  defiant 
manner. 

**  That's  right,"  said  Jack ;  "  keep  up  that  spirit,  and 
you'll  make  your  fortune.  Remember,  first  thing  to-morrow 
you  are  to  be  conducted  to  your  seat  of  government ;  the 
guard  of  honour  will  be  at  the  door  of  your  hotel  at  five 
o'clock,  you  will  reach  Alla-hissar  about  ten,  and  to-morrow 
morning  youTI  begin  your  public  duties." 

"What  will  your  father  say,  Jack,  when  he  hears  of  this  ? 
But  I  hope  you  won't  desert  me,  my  dear  boys,"  said  Mole, 

"  We'll  go  with  you,"  answered  Harry. 

"Rather!"  acquiesced  Jack.  "We'll  never  leave  you, 
old  boy." 

The  remainder  of  the  day  was  spent  by  Mole  in  the 
further  study  of  Turkish. 

These  exertions  were  fatiguing,  and  Mr.  Mole  was  tired 
when  he  retired,  as  he  expressed  it. 

He  was  not  long  falling  asleep,  and  dreams  of  glory,  power, 
and  .magnificence  filled  his  slumbers. 


100  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

He  was  just  dreaming  he  had  been  elected  sultan  when 
he  was  suddenly  and  rudely  awakened  by  a  terrible  knocking 
at  the  door. 

Mole  started  up,  and  was  told  that  he  must  prepare  in  a 
great  hurry,  for  the  escort  had  already  arrived. 

The  tutor,  still  half  asleep,  looked  out  of  the  window,  and 
in  the  day  dawn  he  discerned  a  small  body  of  horsemen  at 
the  door  of  the  hotel. 

Mole  felt  that  he  could  never  get  into  those  elaborate 
Turkish  robes  without  assistance ;  luckily  at  this  juncture 
young  Jack  put  in  an  opportune  appearance,  and  offered  to 
help  him. 

"You'll  have  to  make  haste,  pasha,"  said  our  hero; 
"  strikes  me  you've  rather  overslept  yourself.  Where  is 
your  beard  ? " 

"Here  it  is,"  returned  Mole;  "but  why  didn't  some  of 
you  wake  me  before  ?  I  was  so  busy  dreaming  that  I  was 
sultan,  and — that's  right,  my  boy,  help  me  on  with  the  cork 
legs  and  boots,  that's  the  worst  difficulty,  and  then  all  these 
things,  and  lastly  the  turban  and  beard." 

"  I'll  get  Harry  to  help  me,"  pursued  Jack  ;  "  you'll  have 
proper  attendants  when  you  are  installed  in  the  palace. 
Remember  what  we  agreed  upon  last  night ;  we  are  to  pass 
off  as  your  two  sons,  under  the  names  of  Yakoob  and 
Haroun  Pasha." 

"  Just  so,"  said  Mole ;  "  but  I  expected  a  larger  escort 
than  those  half  a  dozen  men  there.  I  would  not  go  through 
this,  my  boy,  if  I  thought  future  history  would  not  give  me 
a  glorious  page." 

"  Oh,  don't  fear,  sir,  this  will  be  something  grand  for  you ; 
at  the  gate  of  the  town  you  will  be  met  by  a  regular  guard 
of  honour." 

With  the  combined  assistance  of  Jack  and  Harry,  Mole 
was  fully  invested  with  his  Oriental  robes,  with  which  he 
stumped  downstairs  as  gracefully  as  a  moving  bundle  of 
clothes. 

His  escort  consisted  of  six  spahis,  most  of  them  black,  and 
headed  by  the  messenger  of  the  day  before. 

"  Jack,  my  dear  boy,"  said  Mole,  "  at  last  my  time 
has  arrived  to  become  a  great  man  in  the  eyes  of  the 
world." 

"  Right  you  are,  sir,"  replied  Jack.  "  On  you  go,  my  noble 
pasha." 


ff/S  BOY  TINKER.  IOI 

As  soon  as  Mole  was  mounted,  the  chief  spahi  gave  the 
word,  and  the  imposing  cavalcade  set  off  at  a  quick  trot. 

In  two  hours  they  had  arrived  at  the  primitive  and  seques* 
tered  town  of  Alla-hissar. 


CHAPTER   LXXV. 

THE  GREAT  MOLEY   MOLE  PASHA. 

SUCH  an  important  event  as  the  arrival  of  a  new  governor 
naturally  caused  a  great  deal  of  excitement  among  the 
worthy  inhabitants  of  the  remote  town. 

They  came  out  in  crowds  to  greet  him.  headed  by  all  the 
inferior  functionaries,  and  a  military  guard  of  honour  con- 
ducted him  to  the  old  castle,  which  had  been  fitted  up  as  a 
sumptuous  official  residence. 

Two  things  puzzled  his  new  subjects ;  the  fact  of  his 
arrival  being  two  days  before  the  appointed  time,  and  the 
circumstance  of  the  new  pasha,  who  was  apparently  a  Turk, 
returning  their  greetings  through  an  interpreter. 

However,  none  had  any  doubt  of  the  reality  of  his  ap- 
pointment, and  the  production  of  the  sultan's  firman  at 
once  made  the  old  cadi,  or  magistrate,  who  had  been  tem- 
porarily put  in  command,  give  way  to  his  superior. 

Briefly  let  us  explain  these  circumstances. 

It  was  another  hoax,  and  a  most  daring  and  gigantic 
one,  on  the  part  of  Jack  and  his  friends,  upon  their  long- 
suffering  tutor. 

Having  ascertained  that  the  town  of  Alla-hissar  was 
actually  waiting  for  its  new  governor,  the  real  pasha,  who 
was  to  arrive  from  Constantinople  in  two  days'  time,  Jack 
and  the  others  hit  upon  the  idea  of  making  the  situation  the 
basis  of  a  grand  practical  joke. 

Thejirman  was  of  course  a  forged  document,  written  by 
the  old  interpreter,  who  was  in  the  plot,  and  the  Turkish 
officer  who  had  presented  it  to  Mole  was  no  other  than  our 
friend  the  diver. 

The  waiter,  the  orphan,  and  the  two  nigger  boys  had  also 
effectually  disguised  themselves,  and  became  members  of 
Mole's  escort. 

A  skilful    combination  enabled  them  to  carry  out  the 


1 02  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

details  of  their  plan  with  such  success  as  to  deceive  not 
only  Mole  himself,  but  the  simple  pastoral  folks  of  Alla-hissar 
itself. 

Moley  Pasha,  as  he  now  styled  himself,  was  in  all  his 
glory. 

"  This  is  a  proud  day,"  he  observed  to  Jack,  as  he  gazed 
round  on  the  handsome  residence  provided  for  him.  "  Little 
did  I  imagine  that  old  Isaac  would  ever  live  to  come  out  in 
all  the  glories  of  an  Oriental  magnate.  Jack,  we  must  let 
your  dear  father  know  of  this." 

"  We  will,  sir ;  but  now  let  us  congratulate  you,"  answered 
our  hero.  "  The  more  especially  as  you've  promoted  us  to 
such  high  positions." 

Moley,  the  pasha,  now  retired  to  his*  private  apartments 
to  rest  until  the  hour  arrived  for  his  first  council. 

During  this  time,  he  was  coached  up  by  the  old  interpreter, 
and  by  his  aid,  Moley  Pasha  found  himself  able  to  receive 
the  reports  and  congratulations  of  subordinates  in  the 
government,  and  to  try  several  cases  brought  before  him. 

After  three  hours  of  arduous  public  duties,  the  pasha  and 
his  friends  retired  to  his  private  apartments,  which  were 
fitted  up  with  every  Oriental  luxury. 

"  By  Jove  ! — I  mean  by  the  Prophet ! "  exclaimed  the  new 
potentate,  "I 'am  getting  on  like  a  house  on  fire;  but  I  am 
still  mortal,  and  need  refreshment,  not  having  had  anything 
to  speak  of  to-day,  beyond  a  cup  of  coffee  with  a  dash  of 
brandy  in  it." 

Dinner  being  served  up  (in  the  Turkish  style)  the  pasha 
grew  still  more  enthusiastic. 

"  Yes,  this  is  a  delightful  life,"  he  said ;  "  it  only  wants 
the  presence  of  lovely  woman  to  render  it  perfect.  Now, 
if  Mrs.  Mole  Number  One  or  Number  Two  or  Three  were 
here " 

"  Oh,  I  forgot,"  suddenly  broke  in  Jack,  looking  very  se- 
rious. "That  reminds  me,  there  was  one  most  important 
subject  I  had  to  speak  to  you  about.  The  late  pasha  had 
thirteen  wives." 

" How  awful,"  exclaimed  Mole.  "But  what  is  that  to  do 
with  me  ? " 

"  A  good  deal ;  they  are  now  left,  by  his  sudden  death, 
desolate  widows,  and  it  is  expected  that  you,  as  hissucessor, 
should  take  them  under  your  protection.  They  go  with  the 
premises,  like  the  stock  and  fixtures  of  a  business." 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  103 

ri'eaven  above !  you  don't  mean  that  ?  "  exclaimed  Moley 
Pasha,  becoming  much  agitated,  and  pausing  ere  he  quaffed 
a  goblet  of  champagne,  which  he  drank  under  the  name  of 
sparkling  French  sherbet. 

"  It's  quite  true,  though,  isn't  it,  Abdullah  ?  "  turning  to  the 
dragoman. 

u  It's  true  as  the  Koran,  itself,"  returned  Jack.  **  Every 
pasha  of  AUa-hissar  must  have  thirteen  wives." 

-  Good  heaven  !  whatTl  Mrs.  Mole  say  ?  "  exclaimed  Mole, 
in  great  agitation ;  "  hang  it,  you  know,  this  will  never  do — 
Isaac  Mole  with  thirteen  wives.     I  always  thought  I  was  very 
much  married  already,  quite  as  much  as  I  want  to  be." 

**  Unless  your  excellency  agrees,"  continued  the  interpreter, 
"  I  won't  answer  for  the  consequences." 

"  I  have  had  three  wives  already,  and  now  you  wish  me  to 
take  thirteen.  I'd  sooner  resign  my  government  at  once," 
exclaimed  Mole. 

u  Impossible !  "  returned  the  dragoman ;  "  it  b  death  to 
resist  the  sultan's  firman." 

"  Powers  above !  what  a  situation  am  I  in ! "  exclaimed 
Mole,  in  increasing  dismay.  "  I  find  it's  not  all  roses  after 
all,  being  a  pasha  ;  but  thorns,  stinging  nettles,  and  torturing 
brambles.  But  about  these  thirteen  widows,  Abdullah? 
Who  and  where  are  they,  and  what  are  they  like  ?  " 

"  They  are  at  present  in  a  house  not  far  off  from  here," 
was  the  reply ;  "  five  of  them,  it  seems,  have  been  the  widows 
of  die  pasha  before  last,  and  they  are  rather  old ;  six  belonged 
only  to  Youssouf  Pasha,  and  are  middle-aged." 

Mr.  Mole  responded  with  a  deep  groan. 

*  The  other  two,"  proceeded  Abdullah,  u  are  fair  Circas- 
sians in  the  very  summer  of  youth  and  beauty." 

Moley  Pasha  uttered  a  profound  sigh. 

«•  Ah,  that's  much  better." 

"  I  expect  they  win  be  here  soon,  at  least  some  of  them," 
said  Abdullah,  the  interpreter. 

The  subject  then  dropped  for  a  time,  and  the  great  Moley 
also  dropped — asleep,  from  the  combined  effects  of  the  pipe, 
the  coffee,  and  the  wine. 

He  was  suddenly  awakened  by  Abdullah  shooting  in  his 


"  May  it  please  your  excellency,  they've  < 
"Wh'o— who  ?"  gasped  Mote,  in  fearful  terror;  for  be  had 
just  been  dreaming  of  the  rack  and  the  bowstring. 


X04  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  The  noble  Ladies  Alme  and  Hannifar,  widows  of  the  late 
lamented  Youssouf-Pasha,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Gracious  mercy  !  "  exclaimed  the  persecuted  Mole  ; 
"  they've  come  to  claim  me,  perhaps  to  bear  me  off  by  main 
force." 

"  Ho,  there,  guards  ;  stand  round  ;  not  without  a  struggle 
will  Isaac  Mole  surrender  his  liberty  as  a  single  man,  that  is 
as  a  married  man,  but  not — Heaven,  my  brain  is  growing 
utterly  confused  in  this  terrible  position.  Where's  that  bov 
Jack?" 

"  Their  excellencies  Yakoob  and  Haroun  Pasha  are  both 
gone  out,"  was  the  response. 

"  Then,  Abdullah,  I  command  you  to  stand  up  in  my 
defence.  Come  here." 

The  old  interpreter  approached  with  a  low  bow. 

"  Write  on  two  pieces  of  card  the  words — '  Admire  Moley 
Pasha,  but  touch  not  him.'" 

"  In  Turkish  ?  " 

"  Turkish  and  English,  too." 

"  Pasha,  to  hear  is  to  obey." 

At  this  moment  a  young  negro  attendant  announced — 

"The  Ladies  Alme  and  Hannifar  are  impatient  to  be  ad- 
mitted to  your  sublime  presence." 

"  Let  them  wait ;  it  will  do  them  good,"  cried  Mole,  des- 
perately. "  Have  you  written  it,  Abdullah  ? " 

"  One  moment,  your  highness,"  was  the  reply.  "  There," 
he  added,  finishing  up  with  an  elaborate  flourish ;  "  all 
will  understand  that.  And  now  what  am  I  to  do  with 
them  ? " 

"  Fasten  one  notice  on  my  back,  and  the  other  on  my  chest," 
answered  Mole,  "so  that  the  ladies  may  understand  and  keep 
at  a  respectful  distance.  That's  right.  Be  still,  my  trem- 
bling heart.  Now  you  can  admit  them." 

The  negro  drew  aside  the  curtains  of  the  chamber,  and  two 
female  forms  of  majestic  height  and  proportions,  in  gor- 
geous Oriental  costumes,  but  closely  veiled,  entered. 

They  made  a  very  graceful  salute  to  the  pasha,  and  were 
walking  straight  up  to  him,  when  he  sprang  backwards,  and 
leaping  upon  a  high  sofa,  turned  his  back  to  them,  not  in 
contempt,  but  in  order  that  they  might  read  the  Turkish  in- 
scription thereon  inscribed. 

Then  he  turned  and  pointed  to  it  on  his  breast  in  English. 

Far,  however,  from  being  struck  with  awe  and  covered  with 


ff/S  BOY  TINKER.  105 

confusion,  the  ladies  were  highly  amused  and  laughed 
consumedly. 

** What  are  they  smiling  at?"  asked  Mole,  somewhat 
indignantly. 

"  Only  at  the  felicitous  ingenuity  of  your  highness's  idea," 
answered  the  interpreter,  pointing  to  the  placard. 

"  Well,  I  hope  they  understand,  and  will  abide  by  it,"  said 
Mole,  venturing  to  step  off  the  sofa. 

But  the  moment  he  did  so,  the  foremost,  who,  he  understood 
was  the  Lady  Alme,  and  was  certainly  of  an  impulsive  dis- 
position,  sprang  forward  as  if  to  embrace  Mole. 

"  Save  me  1 "  he  cried.  "  To  the  rescue,  guards,  attendants, 
Jack,  Harry.  Where  can  they  have  got  to  ?  Help,  help ! 
Mrs.  Mole,  come  to  the  rescue  of  your  poor  Mole." 

The  old  interpreter,  with  some  dexterity,  flung  himself  be- 
tween them,  just  in  the  nick  of  time  to  avert  from  Mole  the 
fair  Circassian's  effusive  greeting. 

"  Tis  our  Eastern  custom,"  explained  the  dragoman.  "  Her 
ladyship  is  only  expressing  her  delight  at  beholding  her  new 
lord  and  master." 

"  Tell  them  I  am  nothing  of  the  kind,  and  I  have  got  a 
wife  in  England,"  answered  the  pasha. 

Abdullah  did  so,  whereupon  the  ladies  set  up  a  series  of 
piercing  shrieks  and  lamentations. 

"  What  in  the  world's  the  matter  with  them  ?  n  asked  Mole, 
greatly  dismayed. 

"They  are  desolated  at  the  thought  of  having  incurred 
your  sublimity's  displeasure." 

"  Tell  them  that  they  had  no  business  to  come  unless  I 
sent  for  them,"  said  Mole. 

"  They  say,  O  magnificent  pasha,  that,  hearing  of  your  ar- 
rival, they  have  come  thither  in  the  name  of  themselves,  and 
the  other  eleven  ladies  of  his  late  highness's  harem,  to  know 
when  it  will  be  your  princely  pleasure  to  bid  them  cast  aside 
the  sombre  weeds  of  widowhood,  and " 

"  There,  cut  it  short,  dragoman ;  do  you  mean  that  they 
really  expect  me  to  marry  the  whole  lot  of  them  ?  " 

*  Precisely  so,  your  eminence;  even  now  the  most  re- 
verend imaum  of  'the  town  is  ready  to  perform  the  cere- 
monial." 

"  Hell  have  to  wait  a  long  time  if  he  waits  for  that,"  cried 
Mole ;  "  thirteen  wives,  indeed,  and  these  you  say  are  the 
youngest  of  the  lot.  I  suppose  they  have  no  objection  to 


106  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY  AND 

allow  me  to  behold  the  moonshine  of  their  resplendent  feat" 
ures.  That's  the  way  to  put  it,  I  believe,  old  man." 

Abdullah  answered — 

"  It  is  against  Turkish  etiquette  to  unveil  before  the  solemn 
Ceremony  has  been  performed  ;  nevertheless,  their  ladyships 
consent  to  remove  one  of  their  veils,  through  which  you  may 
behold  their  features." 

Alme  and  Hannif  ar  accordingly  threw  back  their  outer  black 
veils,  and  appeared  with  the  white  ones  underneath. 

Mole  scrutinized  them  as  well  as  he  could,  but  he  took 
very  good  care  not  to  go  too  near. 

"  And  so,  Abdullah,  you  tell  me  that  these  two  are  the 
youngest  of  the  whole  lot  ?  " 

"  Indeed,  they  are,  your  eminence ;  famous  beauties  of 
pure  Circassian  descent ;  each  originally  cost  five  thousand 
piastres,  and  they  surpass  the  remainder  even  as  the  mighty 
sun  doth  the  twinkling  stars." 

"  Then  all  I  can  say  is,"  returned  Mole,  "  that  I  shudder 
to  think  what  the  eleven  others  must  be  like.  Just  tell  the 
ladies  Alme  and  Hannifar  that,  as  far  as  I  can  see,  front 
here,  I  don't  think  much  of  them." 

"  I  will  put  your  message  more  mildly." 

And  having  spoken  to  the  ladies  again,  he  said — 

"  Their  ladyships  are  enchanted  to  find  so  much  favour  in 
the  eyes  of  your  excellency." 

"  Thirteen  wives,"  mused  Mole,  scarcely  heeding  the  last 
reply.  "It  is  preposterous — though  nothing  it  seems,  com- 
pared to  some  of  the  Turkish  grandees.  But  fancy  old  Isaac 
Mole — ha,  ha !  really  it's  quite  amusing.  Why,  the  mere 
marrying  so  many  would  be  a  hard  day's  work,  Abdullah.'' 

"  The  ceremony  would  be  slightly  wearisome,  your  high- 
ness." 

"  Yes,  but  I  should  require  thirteen  wedding  rings — ha,  ha, 
ha  ! — the  idea  of  thirteen  wedding  rings  being  used  at  once, 
and  by  one  man." 

"  Don't  let  that  be  any  objection,"  said  Abdullah  ;  "  for 
the  ladies  tell  me  they  have  come  provided  with  exactly  the 
number  of  rings  requisite  for  the  purpose." 

Sure  enough,  Alme  detached  from  her  fair  neck  an  elastic 
band,  whereon  were  strung  thirteen  bright  s;old  rings. 

Mole  was  fairly  staggered  by  this  deteix  'ned  preparation 
wn  the  part  of  the  irresistible  enslavers. 

"'They  mean  to  have  me,"  he  gasped.     " I  see  how  it  is; 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  107 

they  come  here  with  the  intention  of  dragging  me  to  the  late 
pasha's  mansion,  and  marrying  me  by  main  force." 

"  It  looks  like  it,"  answered  the  interpreter,  "for  I  find  that 
they  have  brought  with  them  a  dozen  of  the  harem-guard, 
fully  armed." 

"  Then  I  am  indeed  lost,"  cried  Mole.  "  But  no,  I'll  die 
game.  Here,  help,  guards,  soldiers,  fly  to  the  rescue  of  your 
pasha.  Oh !  Mrs.  Mole,  where  are  you  now  ?  Your  poor 
Mole  is  in  danger." 

As  Mole  uttered  the  piteous  lament  we  have  recorded,  both 
ladies  made  a  combined  charge  at  him,  with  a  wild  shriek  and 
a  sudden  outburst  in  Turkish,  which  might  have  been  either 
a  chorus  of  endearments  or  of  reproaches. 

Alme  got  behind  him  and  flung  her  arms  around  his  neck 
with  such  vigour  that  he  was  nearly  strangled,  Hannifar  at- 
tacking him  in  the  same  way  from  the  front. 

In  the  pressure  of  this  combined  assault  he  was  powerless ; 
struggle  as  be  would,  he  could  not  detach  himself  from  their 
overwhelming  embrace. 

His  cries  for  help  were  smothered. 

His  turban  was  knocked  over  his  eyes. 

He  could  feel  the  placards  being  torn  from  him,  and  him- 
self being  hauled  hither  and  thither  by  the  ladies  who  seemed 
fighting  for  the  sole  possession  of  him. 

At  length,  by  a  gigantic  effort,  he  freed  himself  and  raised 
a  cry  of  alarm  that  might  have  aroused  the  dead,  but  in  that 
effort,  he  stumbled  and  fell  on  his  back  over  a  pile  of  sofa 
cushions. 

Roused  by  his  cries,  the  military  and  body  guard  of  the 
pashalik  rushed  in,  and  the  whole  house  was  in  an  uproar. 

When  Mole  had  been  again  uplifted  to  his  feet,  and  was 
gasping  forth  confused  explanations,  he  perceived  that  the 
Ladies  Alme  and  Hannifar  fy»d  mysteriouly  levanted. 


Io8  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 


CHAPTER  LXXVI. 

THE  SUDDEN  RUIN  AND  UTTER  DOWNFALL  OF  THE  GREAT 
MOLEY  PASHA. 

THE  ladies'  absence  was  a  great  relief  to  Mole.  He 
devoutly  hoped  that  he  had  for  ever  got  rid  of  the  thirteen 
widows  of  his  late  lamented  predecessor. 

About  an  hour  afterwards,  when  Mole  was  striving  to  calm 
his  irritated  feelings  with  a  cup  of  coffee  and  hookah,  Jack 
and  Harry  arrived,  as  they  said,  from  a  walk  round  the 
neighbouring  country,  looking  as  innocent  as  any  of  the 
lambs  they  may  have  met  on  the  finely-grassed  hills. 

This  innocent  look  was  remarkable,  because,  as  the  reader 
has  probably  suspected,  they  had  really  been  concerned  in 
Mr.  Mole's  recent  adventure. 

In  short,  Jack  had  been  the  Alme,  and  Harry  the  Hannifar, 
of  the  domestic  scene  we  have  described,  the  Turkish  dress 
and  the  ladies'  custom  of  keeping  veiled,  immensely  assisting 
them  in  the  imposture. 

"  Whatever  has  been  the  matter  here  ? "  asked  Jack. 
*'  As  we  were  coming  along,  we  heard  a  dreadful  row  outside, 
and  saw  a  large  body  of  troops  bolting  off  in  a  deuce  of  a 
hurry." 

"  Oh,  my  sons,"  replied  the  pasha,  in  a  tone  of  paternal 
pathos,  "  sore  hath  been  the  wretchedness  and  distress  of 
your  afflicted  parent.  I  wish  you  had  been  here,  then  it 
could  not  have  happened.  I'll  tell  you  all  about  it." 

Jack  and  Harry  Girdwood  had  sufficient  self-command  to 
listen  with  unmoved  countenances  to  Mr.  Mole's  account  of 
the  adventure,  and  even  to  express  great  surprise  and  alarm 
at  the  harrowing  details. 

"  Shall  I  write  home  to  Mrs.  Mole  for  you,  sir  ? "  said 
Jack. 

"  For  the  Lord's  sake,  no,"  cried  Mole,  in  dismay. 

Then  they  tried  their  best  to  frighten  the  old  tutor,  by  sug- 
gesting various  deadly  schemes  of  vengeance,  which  it  was 
very  possible  the  ladies  of  his  late  highness's  seraglio  might 
form  against  Moley  Pasha. 

"You  must  never  go  out  without  a  strong  body  guard,1* 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  109 

said  Jack,  "  for  at  any  time  they  may  have  you  seized  and 
borne  off  to  the  harem." 

'•  And  you'll  have  to  take  care  of  yourself  even  at  home," 
added  Harry,  **  especially  with  regard  to  the  food  you  eat, 
for  in  Turkey,  those  who  owe  a  grudge  think  nothing  of  pay- 
ing it  out  in  poison." 

"  Gracious  Heaven  !  don't  talk  in  that  way,"  cried  Mole. 
"  you  quite  make  my  blood  run  cold.  I  think — I  hope — I 
can  trust  my  guards  and  my  new  attendants." 

'•  I  hope  so  too,"  replied  Jack,  shaking  his  head  in  grave 
doubt.  **  But  you  must  always  bear  in  mind  that  treachery 
is  one  of  the  commonest  vices  of  the  East ;  you  can't  be  too 
careful." 

"Oh,  Allah,  Allah!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole,  who  had 
slipped  naturally  into  a  habit  of  using  Turkish  interjections ; 
"  what  a  life  it  is  to  be  a  pasha.  I  used  to  think  it  was  all 
glory  and  happiness,  but  now  I  find,  to  my  grief,  that — if  this 
sort  of  thing  goes  on,  I  shall  bolt." 

It  being  now  far  advanced  in  the  evening,  the  pasha, 
wearied  out  with  the  cares  and  excitements  of  the  day,  retired 
to  rest  in  the  Turkish  fashion,  half-dressed,  and  upon  a  kind 
of  sofa. 

His  cork  legs,  of  course,  were  carefully  taken  off  first. 

In  this  Jack  and  Harry  assisted  him. 

Moley  Pasha  went  to  sleep  and  to  dream  of  bowstrings, 
scimitars,  and  various  painful  forms  of  execution. 

The  next  morning,  however,  he  arose  more  hopeful,  and 
fully  resolved  to  show  himself  a  vigorous  and  successful 
ruler. 

In  his  sumptuous  seat  in  the  divan,  or  hall  of  audience, 
Mole  began  to  feel  like  a  monarch  on  his  throne,  and  signed 
his  decrees  with  all  the  triumphant  flourish  of  a  Napoleon. 

It  was  in  the  height  of  this  power  and  glory  that  there 
arose  a  sudden  consternation  in  court. 

Murmurs  arose,  shouts,  mingled  with  the  tramp  of  many 
steeds,  were  heard  outside. 

"What's  the  matter?"  asked  the  pasha.  "Who  dares  to 
make  a  disturbance  and  disturb  the  pasha  ?  Officer,  com- 
mand silence." 

A  deadly  stillness  fell  upon  the  assembly. 

For  some  few  moments  one  might  have  heard  a  pin  drop. 

Q'it  distant  shouts  in  the  streets,  and  the  tramp  of  horses 
recommenced. 


HO  YO  UNO  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

The  interpreter  and  Harry  and  Jack,  who  stood  on  each 
side  of  the  pasha,  exchanged  meaning  glances,  which 
partook  much  of  alarm. 

Consternation  could  be  perceived  on  every  face  in  court. 

It  was  evident  that  something  serious  was  about  to  occur. 

"  Whatever  is  the  meaning  of  this  ?  "  cried  the  pasha,  who 
himself  seemed  to  feel  no  suspicion  and  alarm.  "  Abdullah, 
go  and  see  what  it  means." 

The  old  interpreter  at  once  hurried  to  the  door. 

Jack  and  Harry,  as  if  impelled  by  resistless  curiosity, 
followed  him. 

Karam,  the  chief  of  the  guard,  did  the  same,  and  many  of 
those  about  the  court  followed  in  a  now  excited  and  expect- 
ant group. 

At  this  moment,  the  shouts  outside  grew  louder  and 
fiercer. 

An  angry  consultation,  in  which  half  a  dozen  at  least  were 
engaged,  all  talking  at  once,  could  be  heard,  and  then  Karam, 
the  chief  of  the  guard,  came  rushing  back  with  a  face  full  of 
dismay. 

"  Your  highness "  he  gasped. 

"  Well,  Karam,  what's  the  matter  ?  "  asked  Mole. 

"  A  grand  officer,  who  calls  himself  Moley  Pasha,  the  same 
name  as  your  excellency,  is  outside  with  a  body  of  troops, 
and  insists  upon  admission." 

Mole  started  from  his  seat,  and  almost  immediately  sank 
exhausted  with  fright  and  horror. 

He  saw  now  the  peril  in  which  he  stood,  and  devoutly 
wished  he  were  safe  at  home,  and  in  the  arms  of  Mrs.  Mole. 

"  A — pasha — calling  himself  Moley !  "  he  exclaimed. 
M  What  does  he  want  ? " 

"  He  declares  he  has  been  appointed  to  this  government 
by  the  firman  of  his  imperial  majesty  the  sultan,  and  that 
you — you — pardon,  your  highness — are  an  impostor." 

Mole  now  knew  the  worst. 

It  was  all  up  with  him. 

But  desperation  inspired  him  with  an  artificial  courage  ;  he 
resolved  to  die  game,  and  keep  it  up  to  the  last. 

"  Tell  the  so-called  Moley  Pasha,"  he  exclaimed,  "  that  he 
is  the  impostor.  Here,  guards,  stand  round  me,  and  defend 
your  rightful  governor." 

The  soldiers  wavered. 

They  began  to  fear  that  all  was  not  quite  right. 


ffJS  BOY  TINKER.  in 

raip^in  also  hesitated  in  enforcing  die  com- 
mands of  Mole. 

At  this  moment  die  scale  was  turned  by  Abdullah,  die  in- 
terpreter, rushing  into  the  hall,  and  tiiundering  forth,  to  die 
utter  amazement  and  consternation  of  \foir 

~  Down  with  the  impostor,  my  friends.  We  have  all  been 
deceived  by  this  usurper,  who  has  forged  die  sacred  signa- 
ture of  our  mighty  sultan." 

Shouts  of  ~  Down  widi  die  impostor ! "  now  resounded  on 
all  sides,  and  a  rush  was  made  to  drag  Mole  from  his  seat. 

Poor  Mole,  he  was  entirely  defenceless. 

Jack  and  Harry  did  not  return ;  probably  diey  had  been 
secured  by  the  enemy. 

Mole  gave  himself  up  for  lost. 

He  was  surrounded  by  an  infuriated  crowd,  still  shouting 
*  Down  widi  die  impostor !  Death  to  die  infidel  who  dares 
to  wear  die  colours  of  die  blessed  Prophet  5 " 

It  .seems,  indeed,  diat  die  luckless  Mole  would  have  fallen 
a  sacrifice  to  Lynch  law,  but  at  dus  moment  die  real  Moley 
Pasha,  with  his  troops,  entered  the  hall,  and  at  once  com- 
manded die  infuriated  crowd  to  stop,  and  relinquish  dieir 
victim. 

-  Now,"  said  die  real  Moley  Pasha,  "  bring  before  me  the 
stranger  who  has  so  audaciously  assumed  my  title  and 
c. _;-:::-.-." 

Poor  Hole,  now  a  trembling  "prisoner  at  the  bar,"  was 
brought  bound  and  guarded  by  soldiers,  before  die  magnate 
whom  of  late  be  had  defied. 

"  Prisoner,"  said  the  pasha,  sternly,  **  what  do  you  dare  to 
say  for  yourself  in  defence  of  the  crime  you  have  committed  ?  " 

Mr.  Mole,  in  the  deepest  fright  and  humility,  made  shift 
to  stammer  in  Turkish — 

~I  don't  defend  it  at  all;  I — I  was  egged  on  to  it  by  diat 
young  Jack  Harkaway." 

"What's  Harkaway?"  now  inquired  die  pasha. 

"  The  youth  who  came  widi  me,  and  passed  as  my  son, 
Yakoob,and  his  friend  Harry  Girdwood,  or  Haroun  Pasha.*' 

"  Ah !  two  more  impostors;  bring  them  forward,"  said  die 
11  -  ~.  JL 

Search  was  made  for  Jack  and  Harry,  but  they  were  no- 
where to  be  found. 

In  die  confusion  diey  had  contrived  to  make  good  their 
escape. 


1 1 2  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WA  Y  AND 

"Well,  we  must  make  an  example  of  the  chief  offender,1" 
said  the  pasha.  "  Prisoner,  I  find  you  have  some  difficulty 
in  expressing  yourself  in  our  language,  which  alone  should 
have  stamped  you  as  an  impostor.  I  suppose  you  speak 
French  ? "  he  added,  continuing  his  interrogation  in  that 
language.  "  I  command  you  instantly  to  point  out  any  other 
accomplices  in  this  villanous  fraud." 

"The  interpreter,  Abdullah,  your  highness,"  said  Mole, 
glad  to  be  avenged  upon  that  worthy. 

Here  Abdullah  came  forward,  making  a  gesture  of  disgust, 
and  turning  up  his  eyes  in  pious  horror. 

"  Inshallah  !  what  lies  do  these  dogs  speak ! "  he  exclaimed. 
"  I  swear  to  your  highness,  by  the  prophet,  that  I  knew  not, 
suspected  not,  till  this  moment  that  he  was  other  than  he 
seemed." 

"  You  rascally  old  villain  !  you  deserve  bowstringing  for 
this,"  cried  Mole. 

"  Peace  !  "  sternly  cried  the  pasha.  "  Show  me  the  forg- 
ery you  dare  to  call  the  firman  of  his  sublime  majesty,  the 
sultan." 

Mole  instantly  produced  the  unlucky  document. 

The  real  Moley  Pasha  instantly  compared  it  with  his  own. 

"  An  impudent  forgery  !  "  he  exclaimed,  turning  to  the  cadi 
of  the  town,  who  had  now  arrived,  and  was  much  amazed 
and  dismayed  at  what  had  occurred. 

"  Pardon  me,  I  entreat,  your  excellency,"  said  the  old 
cadi.  "  I  trust  you  will  let  this  accusation  go  no  further. 
In  any  case,  my  associates  in  office  were  quite  as  much  to 
blame." 

"  'Twas  this  Prankish  magician  who  has  befooled  us  with 
his  spells,"  said  several  of  the  town  officials. 

And  they  pointed  at  Mole  with  fierce  and  vengeful  gestures, 
which  made  him  feel  certain  that  his  life  would  be  sacrificed 
to  their  vengeance. 

"  I  doubt  whether  it  was  witchcraft  or  mere  folly,"  said 
the  pasha,  who  was  much  more  enlightened  than  most  of  his 
audience.  "  It  seems  to  me  that  this  giaour  is  very  probably 
the  dupe  of  others.  But,  in  any  case,  he  must  not  go  un- 
punished. Prisoner,  your  crime  is  proved,  and  I  sentence 

you  tO "  ^ 

He  paused. 

Mole  fell  on  his  knees. 

"  To  a  week's  imprisonment  in  the  first  place,  which  will 


BIS  BOY  TINKER.  113 

allow  time  for  further  inquiries  to  be  made,  and,  if  necessary, 
to  communicate  and  receive  our  sublime  Master's  commands 
on  the  matter.  Till  then  you  will  be  kept  in  solitary  con- 
finement, on  bread  and  water,  and  closely  guarded." 

"Mercy!"  Mole  found  tongue  to  exclaim.  "I  trust— I 
implore  that  your  highness  will  at  least  spare  my  wretched 
life,  for  I  declare " 

44  Away  with  him,"  interrupted  the  pasha. 

So  the  unhappy  Mole  was  taken  off  hi  chains  to  his  dun- 
geon, bread  and  water,  and  horrible  anticipations  of  his 
ultimate  fate. 


CHAPTER   LXXV1L 

MOLE  IN  "THE  DEEPEST  OCXGEON " — HOPES  OF  RESCUE. 

THE  unfortunate  Isaac  Mole  was  now  reduced  to  a 
position  unprecedented  even  in  his  varied  career. 

He  was  placed  in  the  "  deepest  dungeon  "  of  the  old  castle, 
which  was  used  as  the  town  gaol,  in  a  cold  stone  cell  all  to 
himself,  and  a  couple  of  fierce-looking  bashi-bazouks  to 
watch  him. 

Bread  and  water — both  of  the  stalest— constituted  poor 
Mole's  only  fare,  and  his  lodging  was  literally  "on  the  cold, 
cold  ground." 

The  constant  fear  of  a  terrible  doom  haunted  him. 

It  was  the  third  night  of  his  incarceration,  and  about  the 
middle  of  the  night  Mole  was  kept  awake  by  his  own  de- 
pressing thoughts,  together  with  the  gambols  of  the  rats 
that  infested  the  dungeon. 

Suddenly  the  deadly  stillness  was  broken  by  a  sound  out- 
side, which  much  agitated  bun. 

"Ha,  what  sound  is  that?"  cried  Mote;  "yes,  oh,  joy,  it 
is  the  sound  of  a  flute." 

Could  he  mistake  that  note  ? 

Who  could  make  such  melancholy  strains  but  the  desolate 


orphan — the  melodious  Figgins  ? 
HadFiggin 


1  Figgins,  forgetting  all  past  differences  and  animosities, 
come  to  soothe  Mole's  captivity,  in  this  manner,  or — horrible 
thought ! — was  it  a  strain  of  malice  or  revengeful  triumph 
that  emanated  from  the  long-suffering  and  tortured  instru* 


S 


114  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

But  the  flute  did  net  long  continue  playing,  and  Mole 
conjectured  that  it  was  only  a  signal  to  which  he  was  ex- 
pected to  respond. 

He  had  no  mode  whatever  of  doing  so,  excepting  a 
melancholy  whistle,  which,  however,  served  its  purpose. 

Through  the  bars  of  the  prison,  which  were  far  too  high 
up  for  him  to  reach,  a  small  object  suddenly  came  crashing, 
and  very  narrowly  did  it  escape  falling  upon  the  prisoner's 
nose. 

Reaching  out  his  hand  in  the  dark,  Mr.  Mole  picked  it 
up,  and  found  it  to  be  a  stone  wrapped  in  paper. 

He  knew  at  once  that  it  must  be  a  written  message  from 
his  friends  outside,  and  again  he  whistled  as  a  signal  that 
he  had  received  it. 

A  few  triumphant  notes  on  the  flute  responded  to  this, 
and  then  all  was  silent  again. 

How  impatient  Mole  was  for  daylight,  that  he  might  read 
the  letter. 

But  it  was  many  hours  to  that  yet,  and  sleep  he  found 
impossible. 

At  length,  a  faint  streak  came  through  the  bars  of  the 
gloomy  dungeon. 

Mole,  with  some  difficulty,  dragged  himself  under  this 
light,  straightened  out  the  paper,  and  read  thus — 

"  ISAAC  MOLE,  ESQUIRE, — You  are  not  forgotten  by  your 
friends,  who  much  lament  your  misfortune.  We  very 
narrowly  escaped  being  caught  and  served  in  the  same  way. 
We  have,  through  Captain  Deering,  got  hold  of  the  British 
consul,  to  whom  we  have  represented  the  affair  to  be  only 
a  practical  joke,  not  deserving  of  a  severe  punishment.  So 
we  hope  to  get  you  off  with  a  fine,  which  we  will  undertake 
to  pay,  whatever  it  may  be.  Therefore,  keep  up  your  pecker, 
old  man,  and  believe  us  to  be 

"  Yours,  truly  as  ever, 

"  JACK  AND  FRIENDS." 

"  Cool,  after  the  way  they've  served  me,"  was  the  tutor's 
mental  comment  upon  this  message  ;  "  but  the  question  is, 
Can  the  British  consul,  or  any  other  man,  get  me  out  of  the 
clutches  of  these  ferocious  Turks  ? " 

The  next  night,  Mole  was  able  to  sleep. 

But  his  sleep  was  suddenly  and  fearfully  interrupted. 


HIS  BO  Y  TINKER.  1 15 

An  awful  and  confused  noise,  shouting  outside,  flashing 
lights  through  the  bars,  the  clash  of  arms  and  the  hurried 
tramp  of  men,  indicated  that  the  prison  was  the  scene  of 
some  warlike  commotion. 

Mole  started  up  in  a  state  of  great  alarm,  and  struggled 
towards  the  door  of  his  cell 

"  Oh,  dear,  oh,  dear ! "  cried  poor  Mole,  "  this  is  dreadful. 
Oh,  if  I  was  only  a  boy  again.  I  would  stick  to  Old  Eng- 
land, and  never  leave  it.  There,  they  are  at  it  again.  Oh, 
dear,  why  did  I  leave  Mrs.  Mole?" 

The  noise  was  as  if  there  were  a  mutiny  or  outbreak  of 
some  kind. 

Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  sound  of  footsteps,  louder  and 
louder  sounded  the  clashing  of  arms,  and  the  clanking  of 
chains. 

A  shout  of  triumph  sounded  just  outside  his  cell  door,  and 
amidst  a  volley  of  interjections  in  Turkish  and  Arabic,  he 
fancied  he  could  hear  English  shouts  of — 

"  Hurrah !  boys,  we  shall  do  it.  Open  every  one  of  the 
doors,  and  set  them  all  free." 

Two  heavy  bolts  were  shot  back  outside,  the  heavy  key 
was  turned  in  the  lock,  Mole's  cell  door  was  opened,  and  in 
a  burst  of  torch-light  entered  groups  of  armed  Bedouin 
Arabs. 

Mole  shrank  back  in  a  corner. 

These  ferocious  Moslems  had  doubtless  come  to  murder 
him  in  hot  blood. 

In  reality  their  object  was  quite  different. 

The  event  that  had  happened  was  not  an  outbreak  within 
the  walls  of  the  garrison,  but  an  inbreak  of  those  whose 
purpose  was  to  rescue  the  captives. 

Jack  and  Harry  had  the  day  before  put  up  at  the  encamp- 
ment of  some  friendly  Arabs,  who  became  more  friendly 
still  when  they  found  their  guests  liberal  in  respect  of  coin- 
age. 

One  of  the  Arabs  had  a  brother  in  prison  awaiting  the 
pasha's  further  orders  of  punishment,  so  they  were  anxious 
to  help  Jack  and  release  the  Arab  chief. 

Jack  and  Harry,  being  informed  of  this,  thought  it  would 
be  an  excellent  opportunity  for  the  escape  of  Mole,  who  was 
incarcerated  in  the  same  gaol. 

The  party  set  out  in  the  middle  of  the  night. 

They  soon  reached  the  prison. 


1 1 6  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

Darkness  befriended  them. 

The  first  step  was  to  gain  admission  into  the  outer  yard 
or  enclosure. 

This  they  did  by  suddenly  setting  upon  the  two  warders 
outside,  and,  before  they  could  give  the  alarm,  binding, 
gagging,  and  disarming  them. 

Then,  mounting  one  of  the  sentry-boxes,  Jack  and  Harry, 
being  the  lightest  and  most  agile  members  of  the  party,  con- 
trived thus  to  get  over  the  gate,  and  drop  down  inside. 

Here,  with  great  labour,  they  forced  back  the  ponderous 
bolts,  and  the  Arabs  poured  into  the  building. 

The  alarm  was  taken,  and  the  old  castle  of  Alla-hissar, 
as  it  was  called,  was  all  in  an  uproar. 

Gaolers  and  soldiers,  utterly  taken  aback  by  this  sudden 
onslaught,  made  but  ineffectual  resistance. 

Ere  they  could  grasp  their  weapons  and  put  themselves 
in  order  of  defence,  the  Bedouins  were  on  to  them,  striking 
them  down,  forcing  away  their  keys,  and  ill-treating  them  in 
proportion  to  the  resistance  to  the  attack  they  made. 

"  Tell  me,  slave,"  thundered  the  Arab  chief,  to  one  of  the 
gaolers,  "  in  which  cell  my  brother  Hadi  Maimoun  is  con- 
fined?" 

"  In — in  No.  6,"  answered  the  man,  trembling  for  his  life. 

"  Art  thou  sure  ?  Deceive  me,  dog,  and  thou  diest,"  con- 
tinued the  chief,  threateningly  placing  the  muzzle  of  his 
pistol  to  the  man's  forehead. 

"  I  swear,  by  the  holy  tomb  of  Mecca." 

"  Enough  ;  and  which  is  the  key  ? " 

"  It  is  numbered,  great  lord  :  see  here,  No.  6.** 

"And  the  cell  lieth " 

"  To  the  right  yonder.     I  will  lead  your  highness  thither.** 

"  Do  so,  and  if  you  attempt  to  deceive  us,  not  the  fiend 
himself  can  save  you  from  my  revenge.  Come  on,  friends ; 
Hadj  Maimoun  shall  be  free." 

A  wild  shout  of  triumph  rose  from  the  Arabs. 

In  a  few  moments  they  had  reached  the  cell  indicated, 
where  a  young  Arab,  in  heavy  chains,  looked  up  at  their 
entrance. 

The  chief  recognised  his  brother. 

"  Strike  off  these  chains,  villain  ! "  the  Arab  then  com- 
manded the  gaoler. 

The  chains  dropped  off  the  young  Arab,  whereat  his 
friends  raised  another  triumphant  shout— 


fffS  BOY  TINKER.  117 

to  Allah,  Allah,  Allah!    Glory  be  to  the  Prophet.     Hadj 
Maimoun  is  free." 

By  this  time  the  prison  was  fairly  in  the  hands  of  the 
victorious  invaders. 

One  man,  however,  managed  to  slip  out,  and  made  the 
best  of  his  way  to  the  town  to  rouse  the  pasha  and 
officials. 


CHAPTER  LXXVIII. 

THE    RESCUE    OF    MOLE. 

MR.  MOLE'S  place  of  incarceration  would  have  been  diffi- 
cult to  find  in  that  large  rambling  old  building,  had  not 
Jack,  by  similar  threats  to  those  of  the  Arab  chief,  forced 
cue  of  the  gaolers  to  tell  him  the  number  of  the  cell 

Armed  with  this  information  and  a  bunch  of  keys.  Jack 
made  his  way  to  the  deepest  dungeon,  followed  by  the  rest. 

Mole's  cell  was  the  most  remote,  and  therefore  the  last 
they  came  to. 

"  Mercy,  mercy !  don't  kill  an  unfortunate  prisoner,  who 
has  got  three  wives  somewhere  about  the  world,  and  a  lot 
of  little  black  and  white  children  to  look  after ! ",  cried  Mr. 
Mole,  still  confused  by  the  tumult  around  him,  and  the 
ferocious  aspect  of  the  new-comers. 

"  Kill  you,  Mr.  Mole ;  why,  we've  come  to  let  you  out," 
said  the  foremost  of  the  group,  and  he  flung  back 'the  cowl 
of  his  Moorish  cloak,  thereby  revealing  to  Mole  the  startling 
fact,  that  instead  of  a  murderous  Arab,  it  was  young  Jack 
Harkaway. 

Harry  was  close  to  him. 

A  very  few  words  now  revealed  to  Mole  the  actual  state 
of  affairs. 

"Oh,  my  boys,  my  boys,"  he  exclaimed,  ''what  I  have 
suffered  all  through  yon.  But  still,  Jack,  my  boy,  I  was  not 
afraid  of  them.  No,  my  boy,  I  intended  to  have  fought  to 
the  last,  and  I  have  no  doubt  I  should  have  killed  a  dozen 
or  two  of  'em." 

"  No  doubt,  sir ;  but  let  as  get  out  of  this,"  said  Jack. 
"Come  on." 

<*  But  my  hands  are  fastened  with  these  heavy  chains," 
sv.d  Mo!e." 


1 18  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"  Bring  a  hammer  and  a  chisel,  you  fellows,"  called  out 
Jack,  "  and  we'll  have  'em  off  in  no  time." 

The  ex-pasha  was  therefore  operated  upon,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  the  chains  were  off,  and  Mole  was  nearly  a  free 
man — not  quite  free,  however,  for  by  this  time  the  whole 
neighbourhood  was  up  in  arms  ;  the  pasha  had  been  roused 
in  a  hurry,  and  mustering  his  troops,  had  hurried  off  to  the 
gaol. 

"  We  shall  have  to  fight  for  it,  lads,"  cried  Jack,  drawing 
his  Arab  sabre ;  "  we  must  cut  our  way  through  them,  or 
we're  lost  to  a  certainty." 

The  Bedouins  were  prepared  to  follow  their  leader  to  the 
death. 

The  chief  Zenaib,  with  his  brother,  Hadj  Maimoun,  led 
the  desperate  enterprise,  and  the  numbers  of  their  followers 
were  now  increased  by  all  the  escaped  prisoners. 

As  they  came  rushing  out,  they  were  opposed  by  twice 
their  number  of  well-armed  troops,  whom  they  had  to  cut 
through  as  best  they  could. 

It  was  a  desperate  conflict. 

Hand-to-hand,  cut-and-thrust,  bullets  discharged  from 
pistols  and  muskets,  fierce  charges  with  bayonets,  continued 
for  half  an  hour. 

The  confusion  was  dreadful,  the  noise  deafening,  numbers 
of  men  killed  and  wounded  on  both  sides  making  the  result 
far  more  tragic  than  our  hero  and  his  companion  had  ever 
anticipated  or  desired. 

The  prisoners  fought  to  secure  their  liberty,  the  Arabs  out 
of  hatred  to  the  Turks,  while  Jack  and  Harry,  with  no  par- 
ticular animosity  against  either  party,  now  fought  desperately 
in  self-defence. 

They  received  several  serere  cuts,  and  in  a  short  time  got 
entirely  separated  from  their  friend  Mole. 

He,  meantime,  half  propped  up  against  the  wall,  was 
valorously  holding  out  against  his  former  gaoler,  who  was 
trying  to  recapture  him.  At  length,  the  Arabs,  finding  it 
impossible  to  break  their  way  through  so  large  a  body  of 
disciplined  troops,  fell  back,  and  their  destruction  would 
have  been  inevitable. 

But,  at  this  moment,  one  of  the  half-escaped  prisoners 
called  out  that  he  had  discovered  a  back  entrance,  on  the 
other  side  of  a  building,  through  which  they  might  all  make 
their  exit. 


H9 

The  Arab  chief  accordingly  ordered  an  immediate  re- 
treat. 

The  Turkish  soldiers,  seeing  this  manoeuvre,  gave  chase 
to  them,  whilst  others  were  ordered  round  to  intercept  their 
flight  at  the  back. 

Jack  and  Harry  having  returned  to  Mole,  took  him  between 
them ;  each  one  holding  an  arm,  they  got  along  as  swiftly  as 
the  cork  legs  and  feet  of  the  d-drrant  pasha  would  allow. 

But  as  ill-luck  would  have  it,  on  emerging  from  one  of  the 
alleys,  they  met  the  detachment  of  Turkish  soldiers,  who  at 
once  rushed  upon  them. 

The  whole  three  gave  themselves  up  for  lost. 

Mole  at  length  stumbled,  and  fell  heavily  to  the  ground. 

"  Save  yourselves  at  once,"  he  groaned.  "  Don't  mind 
me ;  I'm  done  for,  I  can't  get  a  step  further.  Oh,  dear,  and 
my  head's  all  bleeding  from  that  sword  cut.  Run !  Make 
haste,  my  dear  boy ;  the  wretches  are  firing  at  us ! " 

Reluctantly  the  two  youths  obeyed  the  instinct  of  self-pres- 
ervation, by  letting  go  die  hands  of  die  old  tutor,  and  turn- 
round,  they  immediately  dived  into  one  of  the  adjoining 


It  was  just  in  time,  for  at  that  moment,  two  musket  balls 
whizzed  so  close  to  them  that  the  difference  of  a  mere  inch 
would  have  been  certain  death. 

It  was  a  narrow  escape  for  them :  but  once  out  of  sight  of 
the  soldiers,  they  finally  reached  a  place  of  perfect  safety, 
and  after  all,  as  Harry  remarked — 

"  A  miss  is  as  good  as  a  mile." 

Meanwhile,  Mole's  catalogue  of  misfortunes  were  still  be- 
ing added  to. 

Picked  up,  bleeding  and  exhausted,  by  the  soldiers,  he  was 
instantly  taken  before  the  officer  commanding  the  troops. 

Several  Arabs,  a  few  Turkish  soldiers,  and  two  of  the  gaol- 
ers had  been  killed,  and  there  were  many  wounded  men  that 
required  attending  to. 

The  commander  had  enough  to  do  in  restoring  matters  to 
order,  therefore  he  left  the  punishment  of  Mole  to  his  lieu- 
tenant. 

•*  Remove  all  the  prisoners,  for  the  present,  to  the  guard- 
room," said  the  lieutenant.  "When  I  open  my  council  at 
noon  in  the  divan  bring  them  all  before  me." 

"  Tour  excellency's  word  is  law,"  answered  the  head  gaoler, 
bo^r.g. 


1 2  O  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

The  lieutenant  turned  his  horse,  and,  followed  by  his  body- 
guard, rode  home  in  a  very  ill  temper. 

An  hour  or  two's  rest,  however,  and  the  soothing  effects 
of  pipe  and  coffee,  had  somewhat  restored  his  equanimity  by 
the  time  he  re-entered  the  divan. 

Punctually  at  noon,  the  prisoners  were  brought  before  him 
by  the  head  gaoler. 

"  Let  me  see,"  said  the  lieutenant,  referring  to  the  docu- 
ment, and  checking  off  the  captives  as  they  were  identified ; 
"  horse-stealing,  highway  robbery,  drunkenness,  assault — yes, 
I  have  resolved  what  to  do.  As  these  offences  seem  com- 
paratively light,  and  as  our  prison  is  for  the  present  ineffi- 
cient, I  shall  order  all  these  men  to  be  punished  with  the 
bastinado." 

"  There  is  one  more,"  said  the  lieutenant.  "  This,  I  find, 
is  the  wretched  Frank  who  dared  to  personate  our  great 
pasha." 

"  Nothing  escapes  your  honour's  penetration,"  answered 
the  vizier. 

"  Such  a  crime  deserves  a  heavier  punishment.  However, 
when  his  turn  comes,  give  him  twenty-five  blows." 

"  It  shall  be  done,  illustrious  governor,"  was  the  re- 
sponse. 

And  forthwith  were  summoned  the  two  burly  officials  whose 
unpopular  duty  it  was  to  administer  castigation. 

One  bore  a  stout  rattan,  the  other  several  pieces  of  strong 
rope. 

The  frame  to  which  they  were  to  be  lashed  was  then  brought 
into  the  room,  it  being  the  lieutenant's  intention  that  the 
punishment  should  be  administered  in  his  presence. 

The  first  prisoner  was  then  seized,  and  his  slippers — stock- 
ings not  being  worn  by  the  majority  of  Turks — taken  off. 

He  was  then  bound  hand  and  foot,  and  securely  tied  to 
the  frame. 

The  two  executioners  then  took  it  in  turns  to  administer 
ten  heavy  blows  upon  the  bare  soles  of  the  criminal. 

At  the  first  blow,  the  patient  set  up  a  howl,  which  seemed 
but  to  increase  the  vigour  and  energy  of  the  operator. 

It  was  indeed  a  terrible  sight  for  any  person  of  sensitiveness 
to  see  a  human  being — though  deserving — suffer  in  this  man- 
ner. 

Mole,  however,  didn't  feel  any  anxiety  on  that  score,  and 
he  made  up  his  mind  to  do  the  brave  and  noble  Englishman, 


ff/S  BOY  TINKER.  121 

fcr  he  knew  that  they  might  hammer  away  at  his  cork  soles 
for  ever,  without  hurting  him  much. 

What  troubled  him  was  die  probability  that  they  would 
take  his  stockings  off,  and  discovering  the  insensate  nature 
of  his  **  understandings,"  order  him  some  other  and  more 


So,  after  the  infliction  of  seeing  several  men  suffer,  with 
degrees  of  bravery  and  cowardice,  and  all  variety  of 
and  contortions,  Mole  heard  himself  called  up'  for 


He  had,  in  the  meantime,  thought  of  a  ruse. 

Then,  marching  up  boldly  to  f^*i*  lieutenant,  he  addressed 


"I  know  I  fully  deserve  your  dreadful  but  just  sentence 
and  quietly  wffl  I  submit  myself  to  the  torture;  but,  I  en- 
tiejl  you,  do  not  compel  me  to  remove  my  stockings. 


among  my  countrymen,  is  considered  the  deepest  degrada- 
tion and  never  inflicted,  save  upon  criminals  sentenced  to 
death." 

"H*m!"  said  the  lieutenant,  somewhat  moved.  "Formy 
part,  I  would  just  as  soon  suffer  the  infliction  with  bare  feet 
as  Inmigji  a  thin  layer  of  stocking." 

«  But  my  feelings  'as  an  Englishman,"  pleaded  Mole. 

•Well,  be  it  as  you  wish,  Take  off  your  shoes  only  ;  but, 
WMM^I  remember  to  ive  it  to  him  a  hide  harder,  to  make 


ber  to  give  it  to  him  a  hide  harder, 
up  for  die  stockings." 

*  Great  lieutenant,  I  wffl  obey.    The  force  of  die  blows 
shall  be  0000104." 

At  this  moment,  Mole  saw  die  eyes  of  Tinker  fixed  upon 
him,  and  he  knew  he  should  yet  get  help. 


Knding  him  Kke  the  others,  hand  and  foot,  diey  tied  him 
to  die  frame,  and  the  chief  castigator,  rolling  up  his  sleeves, 
preceeded  to  belabour  Mole's  soles  with  terrific  energy. 

The  blows  sounded  fearfully  loud  and  sharp,  and  each  was 
given  widi  such  vigour  diat  even  ti»e  framework  creaked  under 

But  die  victim  showed  no  pain  or  terror. 
He  did  not  cry  out,  nor  flinch  in  die  least,  nor  strive  to  mit- 
igate the  pain  by  twisting  about. 

Thus  ten  heavy  blows  were  given,  and  die  mflictor  paused 
A  murmur  of  astonishment  ran  round  die  assembly. 


122  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"  Truly  the  Frank  hath  wondrous  strength  and  courage," 
exclaimed  the  lieutenant. 

"  Englishman  are  generally  brave,"  said  an  old  Turk  ;  "  but 
I  never  knew  one  who  would  silently  undergo  such  pain  as 
this." 

"  Make  the  next  ten  blows  harder." 

The  second  man,  therefore,  in  his  turn,  rained  down  upon 
the  inanimate  soles  of  the  ex-pasha,  such  fearful  blows  as 
resounded  through  the  place,  and  made  many  spectators 
shudder. 

But  still  the  victim  neither  flinched  nor  cried  out. 

"  Bismallah  !  this  is  truly  wonderful,  that  a  giaour  so  old, 
so  grey,  so  apparently  feeble,  should  thus  bear  so  terrible  a 
punishment.  Harder,  Selim.  Now  do  you  not  feel  it,  pris- 
oner ? " 

"  Of  course  I  feel  it,  great  pasha  ;  it  even  tickles  my  beard," 
replied  Mole  ;  "  but  heaven  hath  given  me  power  to  withstand 
this  terrible  torture,  and  the  high  spirit  of  an  Englishman 
forbids  me  to  cry  out." 

"  I  could  scarcely  have  believed  it,  did  I  not  behold  it  with 
my  own  eyes,"  said  the  puzzled  lieutenant.  "  Selim,  a  little 
harder." 

"  Your  eminence,  the  tale  of  blows  is  fully  counted,"  said 
the  man,  laying  aside  his  cane. 

"  Five-and-twenty  already  ?  I  was  so  interested  with  the 
prisoner's  fortitude,  that  I  didn't  count  them.  He  has  not 
suffered  enough  yet ;  give  him  five  blows  more." 

"  I  am  ready,"  said  Mole,  stroking  his  false  beard.  "  Re- 
member, an  Englishman  fears  not  pain.  Strike  away." 

And  he  stretched  out  his  cork  legs  to  their  full  extent. 

Five  blows  more  were  given,  but  had  no  more  effect  than 
the  previous  ones. 

<f  By  the  holy  kaaba !  but  this  amounts  to  a  miracle,"  ex- 
claimed the  lieutenant.  "  I  shall  begin  to  respect  the  infidel 
for  his  heroism.  Hamed,  give  him  ten  more  blows  ;  no,  make 
it  twenty,  and  do  you,  Selim,  assist.  That  will  be  fifty  ;  just 
double  the  amount  of  the  sentence.  If  he  flinches  not  this 
time,  he  will  deserve  being  let  off  altogether." 

And  in  truth,  it  would,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  have 
wanted  well-nigh  the  strength  of  Samson  or  Hercules  to  en- 
dure such  tortute  as  now  came  upon  the  schoolmaster. 

Hamed  and  Selim,  each  armed  with  a  heavy  rattan,  rained 
down  alternately  thick  and  fast,  a  shower  of  blows  upon 


ffIS  BOY  TINKER.  123 

Mole's  wonderful  feet,  which  even  shook  the  room,  but  still 
couldn't  shake  Mole's  resolution. 

He  writhed  not,  nor  uttered  cry,  and  showed  not  the  faint- 
est sign  of  giving  way. 

On  the  contrary,  he  jeered  at  the  men. 

"  Bah !  see  how  an  English  man  can  bear  pain,"  exclaimed 
Mole. 

And  to  the  intense  astonishment  of  the  Turks,  he  plucked 
out  a  good-sized  handful  of  hair  from  his  beard  and  threw 
before  the  officer. 

"  Allah  is — ah  ! " 

And  the  Turk  stopped  in  the  midst  of  his  speech  to  spit 
out  a  second  handful  which  Mole,  with  good  aim,  had  thrown 
into  his  mouth. 

"Wonderful!"  exclaimed  the  bystanders, as  Mole  tore 
away  at  his  false  beard  till  he  had  nearly  stripped  the  frame- 
work, while  the  tormentors  worked  away  at  his  feet  with 
redoubled  energy. 

"  Stop,  stop,"  cried  the  pasha,  for  the  men  in  their  energy 
had  exceeded  even  the  fifty  blows  without  knowing  it,  and 
seemed  to  be  going  on  ad  libitum,  "  stop ;  unbind  and  re- 
lease the  prisoner." 

The  two  men,  who  were  bathed  in  perspiration  through 
their  exertions,  accordingly  removed  Mole's  bonds,  assisted 
him  to  his  feet,  and  helped  him  put  on  his  shoes. 

"  Prisoner,"  said  the  lieutenant,  "  your  heroic  conduct  this 
day  has  won  my  deepest  admiration.  Be  seated,  and  rest 
your  poor  feet,  and  then  tell  me  something  of  your  history." 

"  My  poor  feet  will  still  support  me,  therefore  I  win  not 
be  seated,  but  standing  thus,"  said  Mole,  stamping  his  cork 
feet  on  the  ground,  "  will  show  you  something  wonderful." 


CHAPTER  LXXTX. 

MOLE    PASHA    ASTONISHES    THE    NATIVES    STILL    MORE — THE 
ORDER  OF  THE  GLASS   BUTTON. 

"  I  AM  all  attention,"  replied  the  lieutenant 
"  I  came  from  a  land,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  with  a  grandilo- 
quent flourish,  "  where  we  despise  physical  suffering." 

The  august  Turks  around  were  filled  with  wonder  and  with 
admiration  for  the  speaker. 


124  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

After  what  they  had  witnessed,  they  were  prepared  to 
credit  Mr.  Mole's  most  extravagant  assertions. 

"  Would  you  have  some  further  proof  of  my  great  courage  ?  '* 
demanded  Mr.  Mole,  folding  his  arms  and  striking  a  defiant 
attitude. 

"  Brave  man,  what  more  can  you  show  us  o  f  your  courage  ?  " 
was  the  reply. 

"  Behold  !  "  cried  Mole. 

The  whole  assembly  eyed  Mr.  Mole's  movements  with  the 
greatest  curiosity  now. 

"  Bring  me  a  dozen  sharp  implements,  such  as  swords, 
knives,  daggers,  etc,  etc." 

They  were  brought  to  him,  and  he  then  laid  them  down  in 
a  row  upon  the  carpet. 

The  first  was  a  needle  of  the  dimensions  of  an  ordi- 
nary bodkin. 

Next  this,  was  a  small  iron  skewer. 

After  this  came  a  long-bladed  dagger  knife. 

And  finally,  there  was  a  cut-and-thrust  sword  of  alarming 
dimensions. 

"  You  shall  see  now,"  said  Mole,  sternly,  "  how  I  can 
despise  such  trivialities  as  your  bastinado." 

What  was  he  about  to  do  now  ? 

In  solemn  silence,  Mr.  Mole  bared  his  right  calf,  then 
requested  the  company  of  his  black  servant  Tinker,  who  was 
still  in  the  hall. 

The  request  was  granted. 

"  Tinker." 

"Yes,  Massa  Mole." 

0  Go  and  fetch  me " 

Here  he  sank  his  voice  to  a  whisper,  and  the  rest  of  his 
instructions  were  heard  by  no  one  save  the  darkey,  for  whom 
they  were  intended. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  moments,  Tinker  returned  and  passed 
something  slyly  into  Mr.  Mole's  hand. 

It  was  a  small   sponge   in  an  oil-skin  bag. 

Yet  it  appeared  to  be  saturated  with  something,  to  judge 
by  the  way  it  was  handled,  for  Mr.  Mole  slyly  put  it  in  his 
pocket. 

Mr.  Mole  then  took  up  the  smallest  of  the  row  of  imple- 
ments just  described. 

"  Behold  what  an  Englishman  can  do !  " 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  125 

And  then  to  the  amazement  of  the  spectators,  he  thrust 
•the  needle  into  the  thick  part  of  his  calf. 

A  quiet  smile  played  about  the  corners  of  his  mouth. 

But  no  sign  of  the  slightest  suffering. 

"  Judge  how  much  your  bastinado  can  affect  me,"  he  said, 
with  superb  disdain. 

"  Allah  be  praised ! "  ejaculated  the  Turk ;  "  wondrous 
man." 

"  Behold,"  pursued  Mole,  picking  up  the  skewer. 

He  passed  it  fairly  through  his  calf,  and  stood  there  with 
his  foot  firmly  planted  on  the  ground,  gazing  about  him  like 
another  "  monarch  of  all  he  surveyed." 

"  Look  again." 

And  Mole  took  up  a  large  nail,  and  hammered  it  into  his 
foot,  so  that  he  was  pinned  to  the  floor. 

"  Allah  be  praised ! "  again  shouted  the  Turks. 

u  One  more  proof,"  he  said,  disdainfully. 

He  picked  up  another  dagger,  and  pushed  it  resolutely  into 
the  ill-used  leg. 

At  the  same  time  he  held  the  calf  with  his  left  hand,  in 
which  he  concealed,  with  considerable  dexterity,  the  sponge 
which  Tinker  had  brought  him. 

Blood  now  trickled  slowly  through  Mr.  Mole's  fingers,  and 
ran  down  his  legs  and  feet. 

A  thrill  of  terror  passed  through  the  assemblage. 

"  Yet  another  proof,"  exclaimed  Mole,  grandly. 

"  No  more,  no  more,"  exclaimed  the  Turk. 

Mole  withdrew  the  nail  from  his  foot,  and  the  dagger  from 
his  leg,  and  seizing  the  sword,  he  thrust  it  with  ferocious 
energy  into  the  other  mutilated  leg. 

He  pressed  his  hand  to  the  wound,  and  the  blood  flowed 
out  in  a  small  torrent,  while  the  spectators  groaned. 

Mole  looked  round  him  proudly — defiantly. 

Had  he  just  conquered  on  the  field  of  Waterloo,  he  could 
not  have  shown  a  greater  apparent  belief  in  himself. 

He  smiled  sardonically  as  he  bound  up  the  wounded  legs 
with  his  scarf. 

Mr.  Mole  here  nearly  spoilt  his  exhibition  of  his  marvel- 
lous power  of  endurance,  for  pricking  his  finger  accidentally 
with  a  pin,  he  sang  out  lustily,  much  to  the  astonishment 
of  the  Turks, 

But  he  was  lucky  to  recover  himself  in  time  before  the 
Turks  could  divine  what  had  occurred. 


126  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

u  You  must  invent  something  more  violent  than  any  pun- 
ishment I  have  yet  seen  here,  if  you  would  subdue  the  soul 
of  Isaac  Mole." 

And  he  strode  along  with  the  air  of  the  heavy  man  in  a 
transpontine  melodrama. 

The  marvellous  exhibition  of  endurance  aroused  the 
phlegmatic  Turk  to  real  enthusiasm. 

"  Mole  Pasha,"  he  exclaimed,  "  you  are  a  great  hero.  I 
shall  seek  an  audience  of  his  highness  the  Sultan,  and  beg 
of  him  for  you  some  mark  of  distinction,  perhaps  even  to 
confer  upon  you  the  distinguished  order  of  the  glass  button." 

"  Th»  glass  bottle  would  be  more  in  your  excellency's  way, 
Mole  Pasha,"  suggested  Tinker. 

And  henceforth  when  Mole  walked  abroad,  the  population 
was  aroused. 

"Behold  the  bravest  Frank  that  ever  lived,"  they  said. 
*  He  is  a  great  hero." 


CHAPTER  LXXX. 

THE  SNAKE  IN  THE  GRASS — THE  POISONED  DAGGER. 

As  young  Jack  was  sauntering  through  the  streets  of  the 
town  one  day,  he  fancied  that  he  was  being  followed  by  a 
man  who  was  dressed  in  a  semi-Oriental  garb,  but  whose 
head  was  shaded  by  a  broad-brimmed  hat. 

Jack  was  not  given  to  fear  without  a  cause,  yet  he  certainly 
did  feel  uncomfortable  now. 

At  first  he  thought  of  turning  round  and  facing  the  man 
sharply. 

But  this,  he  reflected,  might  lead  to  a  rupture. 

A  rupture  was  to  be  most  carefully  avoided. 

He  was  determined,  however,  to  assure  himself  that  he 
was  followed. 

With  this  view,  he  made  a  circuitous  tour  of  the  city. 

Still  the  man  was  there  like  his  very  shadow. 

"  This  is  unendurable,"  muttered  Jack. 

So  he  drew  up  short. 

Grasping  a  pistol,  which  he  carried  in  his  pocket,  with  a 
nervous  grip,  he  waited  for  the  man  to  come  up. 

But  the  man  did  not  come  up. 


HIS  BOf  TLNKEJL. 
He  disappeared  suddenly,  at  die  very  BOOM 

How  strange! 

Jack  was  not   conscious  of  having  an  enemy — at  least 
not  one  in  that  part  o€  the  world. 


^  Very  strange,"  he  muttered ;"  Tery  strange !  ^ 

And  brooding  over  this  episode,  Jack  wended  his  way 


-Hah!" 

i.lil'-"  "I- 1 " 

The  san 

behind  him,  and  with  a  i 
sharp,  swift  blow. 

Jack  bounded  forward,  and  turned  round  pistol  in  hand, 
but  so  nearly  fatal  bad  been  the  blow  that  Jack's  coat  was 
ripped  down  the  back, 

-Hah!" 

a  dan  after  him  pistol  in  hand,  meaning  to  wreak 

w .        .<          **• .  •  _  _•   -_ 

mm,    tne  rntnan  contmrea  to 


distmbed  by  this,  Jack  went  hotne  and  related 
to  his  friends  what  had  taken  place. 

-This  is  a  mm  go,"  said  Mr.  Mole;  -you  have  been 

for  somebody  dse." 
'So  I  suppose,"  returned  Jack. 
What's  to  be  done  ?  **  saM  Hatry  GMwood. 
Lodge  information  with  the  police  at  once,  I  should 


say,' suggested  Mole. 
-BraTmcans.- 

•  What  was  he  Eke?  " 

-I  could  scarcely  see,"  was  Jack's  reply,- for  he  was 

*  Perhaps  it  was  a  phantom,-  suggested  Harry  slDy. 

"I  should  be  half  nxfined  to  think  so,"  said  Jack, -if  I 
hadnl  received  this  solid  proof  that  he  was  flesh  and  blood." 

Saying  which,  he  turned  round  and  displayed  the  back  of 
kis  coat,  ripped  open  by  the  assassin's  dagger.  . 

"Wefl,- exclaimed  Moie aghast, -that  is  cooL" 

uFm  gbd  you  think  so,"  returned  Jack,  "for  I  can  td 
you  it  was  m*±  too  warm  Cor  me." 


128  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  Well,  we  shall  soon  leave  this  wretched  place,  I  hope," 
said  Mole,  "  for  I  don't  feel  safe  of  my  life.  I  am  expecting 
every  day  to  be  had  up  again  before  the  pasha." 

"  We  must  always  be  on  the  watch  now,"  said  Harry 
Girdwood ; "  constant  vigilance  will  he  necessary  to  avert 
danger." 


Let  us  follow  the  movements  of  the  would-be  assassin. 

The  secret  of  his  sudden  disappearance  was  really  no  great 
mystery  after  all. 

Darting  round  the  first  corner  so  as  to  put  a  house  between 
himself  and  Jack's  pistol,  he  found  himself  suddenly  seized 
by  a  vigorous  hand,  and  dragged  through  an  open  doorway. 

"  Let  go,"  hissed  the  assassin,  fiercely,"  or " 

He  raised  his  long-bladed  knife  to  strike,  but  before  he 
could  bring  his  arm  down,  the  dagger  was  beaten  from  his 
grasp. 

"  Now,"  said  the  stranger  planting  his  foot  firmly  upon  the 
knife,  "  listen  to  me." 

"  You  speak  English,"  said  the  assassin,  in  surprise. 

"  Because  you  spoke  English  to  me,"  was  the  reply ; 
"  until  then,  I  took  you  for  one  of  us." 

"  What  do  you  want  with  me  ?  "  demanded  the  Englishman, 
doggedly. 

"  Not  much,"  returned  the  other,  speaking  with  great 
fluency,  although  his  foreign  accent  was  strongly  marked. 
"  I  have  saved  you  from  the  consequences  of  your  failure. 
Had  my  friendly  hand  not  been  there  to  drag  you  out  of 
sight,  your  young  countryman  would  have  shot  you." 

"  Well,"  returned  the  assassin,  surlily,  "  I  owe  you  my 
thanks,  and " 

"  Stop — tell  me  would  you  like  to  succeed  in  this  in  spite 
of  your  late  failure  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Then  I  will  give  you  a  safe  and  sure  method." 

"  My  eternal  thanks,"  began  the  foiled  ruffian. 

The  stranger  interrupted  him. 

"  Reserve  your  thanks.  Tell  me  what  you  can  offer  if  I 
help  you." 

"  Money ! " 

"  How  much  will  you  give  to  see  your  enemy  removed  from 
your  path  ?  " 


HJS  BOY  TIXffJL  129 

41 1  will  give  a  good  rouixi  sum^  returned  the  Englishman, 
eagerly. 

"  Name  a  sum." 
HedkL 
A  good  round  sum  it  was  too. 

-  Now,   then,"   said  the  Turk,   producing  a  small  phial 
containing  a  pale  greenish  fluid.    "Observe  this." 

"Wefl?" 

"Anoint  your  dagger  with  this.  Scratch  him  with  it; 
let  your  scratch  be  no  more  than  the  prick  of  a  pin,  and  he 
will  be  beyond  the  aid  of  mortal  man." 

-Is  this  sure?" 

"Beyond  an  doubt    «  Would  you  have  proof  ?  - 

"Yes." 

*  -  Wait  here  a  moment." 

The  Turk  left  the  room,  and  presently  he  appeared  carry- 
ing a  small  iron  cage. 

"  boot- 
He  held  up  the  cage,  and  showed  that  it  contained  two 
large  rats. 

-Now,''  said  he,  "remove  the  stopper  and  dip  your 
dagger's  point  in." 

The  Englishman  obeyed. 

"  Now.  prick  either  of  the  rats  ever  so  snghfly." 

The  Englishman  pushed  the  point  of  the  dagger  through 
the  bars  of  the  cage,  and  one  of  the  rats  came  to  sniff  at  it 
— probably  anticipating  a  savoury  tit-bit  to  eat. 

Moving  the  dagger  slightly,  it  barely  grazed  die  rat's  nose*. 

Bat  it  sufficed, 

The  poor  beast  shivered  once,  and  sank  dead. 

"What  do  yon  say  now?"  demanded  the  Turk. 

- 1  am  satisfied,"  replied  the  Englishman. 

«  Now,  before  you  go,"  said  die  Turk,  -I  wffl  give  you  a 
hint.  Theslightest  scratch  wfll  suffice,  as  you  see." 

"  Dip  two  ordinary  pins  in  die  poison,  and  send  diem  by 
letter  to  your  enemy.  Place  diem  so  diat  hi  opening  die 
envelope,  he  wffl  probably  scratch  his  finger.* 

The  Englishman's  eyes  sparkled  viciouslv. 

"I wffl,  I  wffl." 

"  Let  me  know  die  result,  and  should  you  want  my  aid, 
yon  wffl  note  well  die  house  on  leaving  so  as  to  know  where 
to  return." 
9 


130  YOUNG  JACK  IIAKKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  Yes.     What  is  your  name  ? "  demanded  the  Englishman. 
"  Hadji  Nasir  AH,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  and  yours  ?  " 
The  other  hesitated. 

"  Don't  give  it  unless  you  feel  it  is  safe,"  said  the  Turk. 
"  There's  no  harm  in  your  knowing  it,"  returned  the  Eng- 
lishman.    "  My  name  is  Harkaway." 
"  Hark-a-way  ?  " 
"  In  one  word." 
"  I  see.     Farewell,  then." 
"  Farewell." 
And  the  interview  was  concluded. 


"  That  letter  is  a  splendid  dodge.  Look  out,  Master  Jack 
Harkaway,  look  out,  for  I  mean  to  cry  quits  now,  or  my 
name  is  not  Herbert  Murray,"  muttered  the  Englishman,  as 
he  walked  away. 

But  how  Herbert  Murray  had  got  to  Turkey  requires  some 
-explanation. 

It  will  be  within  our  readers'  recollection  that  after  his 
unsuccessful  attempt  on  Chivey's  life,  and  the  adventure  of 
the  groom  with  the  old  Spaniard,  Murray  found  himself  on 
board  the  same  ship  as  his  groom. 

He  resolved  to  make  the  best  of  this  circumstance,  as  it 
could  n-ot  now  be  altered. 

A  few  days  after  leaving  the  Spanish  coast  they  put  into 
one  of  the  Mediterranean  ports,  and  there  heard  that  young 
Jack  and  his  friends  had  gone  on  to  Turkey. 

"  I'll  follow  them  !  "  exclaimed  Murray.  "  I  can  do  as  I 
like  now  the  governor's  gone  and  I've  plenty  of  tin,  so  look 
out  for  yourself,  Jack  Harkaway." 

Murray's  ship  was  delayed  by  adverse  weather,  but  at 
length  reached  port,  and  Herbert  had  scarcely  put  foot  on 
shore,  when  he  beheld  young  Jack,  the  object  of  his  deadly 
hate,  walking  coolly  down  the  street  smoking  a  cigar. 

This  so  enraged  Murray  that  he  hastened  to  disguise  him- 
self in  Oriental  attire,  and  then  made  the  attempt  on  Jack's 
life  which  we  have  related. 


That  same  night  a  man  was  found  dead  on  the  threshold 
of  the  house  in  which  Jack  Harkaway  and  his  friends  resided. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  131 

How  he  had  died  no  one  could  imagine,  for  he  had  not  a 
scratch  on  his  body. 

Yet,  stay. 

There  was  a  scratch. 

Just  that  and  no  more. 

In  his  fast-clenched  hand  was  found  an  envelope  addressed 
to  Mr.  John  Harkaway,  and  on  a  closer  examination  a  pin's 
point  was  seen  sticking  through  the  paper. 

This  had  just  pricked  the  messenger's  hand. 

So  slightly  that,  had  not  the  tiny  wound  turned  slightly 
blue,  it  would  have  entirely  escaped  notice. 


Jack  was  now  aware  that  he  had  in  Turkey  a  deadly  enemy, 
but  who  he  was  he  could  not  yet  telL 

When  the  men  of  skill  assembled  around  the  body,  they 
were  puzzled  to  assign  a  cause  of  death  until  one  of  them 
suggested  it  was  apoplexy.  So  apoplexy  it  was  unanimously 
set  down  for. 

There  was  no  more  fuss  made. 

The  man  was  only  a  poor  devil  of  a  Circassian,  who  got  a 
precarious  livelihood  as  a  public  messenger.  So  they 

•Rattled  bis  bones 

Over  the  stones, 
Like  those  of  a  pauper  whom  nobody  owns." 

And  meanwhile,  his  murderer  went  his  way. 

"  Fortunate  I  gave  the  name  of  Harkaway  to  that  old  pro- 
fessional poisoner,  for  they  will  never  trace  this  job  to  me." 

There  was,  however,  one  result  from  this  using  of  Jack 
Harkaway's  name  which  Herbert  Murray  certainly  never 
contemplated. 

But  of  this  we  must  speak  hereafter. 


In  spite  of  his  knowledge  of  the  fact  that  he  had  enemies 
following  his  footsteps,  our  hero  would  not  remain  in  the 
house. 

"  I  am  quite  as  safe  in  the  street  as  here,"  said  he,  in 
reply  to  Harry  Girdwood's  representations  of  the  danger  he 
ran,  "  and  I  am  sure,  old  boy,  you  would  not  have  me  show 
the  white  feather." 


132  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  You  never  did  that,  and  never  will ;  but  you  need  not 
mn  into  unnecessary  danger." 

"  'Thrice  is  he  armed  who  has  his  quarrel  just,'  and  his 
revolver  well  loaded.  Ta-ta  !  I  am  just  going  to  stroll  down 
to  this  Turkish  substitute  for  a  postoffice,  and  see  if  last 
night's  steamer  brought  any  letters." 

So  Jack  strolled  down  accordingly,  and  found  a  letter  for 
him. 

His  heart  beat  with  joy  as  he  recognised  the  handwriting, 
and  he  hurried  home  to  read  it. 

On  breaking  open  the  envelope,  out  tumbled  a  beautiful 
carte  de  visite  portrait,  a  copy  of  which  we  are  able  to  give, 
as  we  still  thoroughly  retain  young  Jack's  friendship  and 
confidence. 

He  kissed  it  till  he  began  to  fear  he  might  spoil  the  like- 
ness, and  then  placing  it  on  the  table  before  him,  began  to 
read. 

And  this  is  the  letter — 

"  DEAR  JACK, —  You  very  naughty  boy.  Where  have  you  been,  and  why 
have  you  not  written  ?  I  have  a  great  mind  to  scold  you,  sir  ;  but  ott 
second  thoughts,  I  think  I  had  better  leave  the  task  of  correcting  you  to  your 
parents,  who,  perhaps,  have  more  influence  with  you  than  I  have.  You 
don't  know,  dear,  how  anxious  we  have  all  been  about  you.  Poor  Mr. 
Mole  has  started  in  search  of  you.  Have  you  seen  him  yet  ? — and  if  you. 
don't  write  soon,  I  shall  feel  obliged  to  try  and  find  out  what  has  become  of 
you,  for  I  almost  begin  to  fear  that  some  fair  Turkish  or  Circassian 
girl " 

"  The  deuce  !  "  Jack  thought ;  "  she  can't  have  heaad  any 
thing  of  that  affair  yet.  If  Mole  has  written,  the  letter  could 
not  have  reached  England  on  the  2oth  of  last  month." 

Then  he  continued — 

"  —has  stolen  your  heart,  and  Harry  Girdwood"s  too.  Why,  poor 
Paquita  always  has  red  eyes  when  she  gets  up.  So,  darling  Jack,  do  write 
at  once,  and  cheer  our  hearts.  I  can't  help  writing  like  this,  for  I  feel  so 
fearful  that  something  has  happened  to  you.  So  be  a  dear,  good  boy,  and 
send  a  full  account  of  all  your  doings  to  your  father,  and  just  a  few  lines  to 
"  Your  ever  faithful  and  affectionate. 

"EMILY. 

'•  P.S. — 7  was  just  reading  this  over  to  see  if  I  had  been  too  cross,  when 
your  father  came  in  "with  a  photographer,  who  took  my  portrait  without 
my  knowing  anything  about  it.  Do  you  think  it  like  me,  sir  ?  " 

Then  followed  three  or  four  of  those  blots  which  ladies 
call  "kisses." 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  133 


CHAPTER 

MR.  MOLE  AGAW  OUT  OF  LOCK. 

HERBERT  MURRAY,  attended  by  Chiyey,  was  strolling  down 
the  principal  street  of  the  town,  smoking  his  cigar,  thinking 
how  he  could  yet  serve  out  young  Jack,  when  he  suddenly 
saw,  on  in  front,  the  figure  of  an  elderly  man,  who  appeared 
to  walk  with  difficulty. 

He  made  such  uncertain  steps  and  singular  movements, 
as  he  hobbled  along  by  the  aid  of  a  stick,  that  the  effect, 
however  painful  to  him,  was  ludicrous  to  die  onlookers. 

«  Why,  blest  if  it  ain't  old  Mole,  the  man  who  came  to  bid 
young  Harkaway  and  bis  friends  good-bye  when  we  sailed," 
cried  Chivey. 

"Or  his  ghost,"  said  Murray. 

"Ill  have  a  lark  with  him,  sir,"  said  die  tiger,  laying  his 
finger  aside  his  nose,  and  winking  knowingly.  "You  see  !  * 

And  walking  nimbly  and  on  tiptoe  behind  die  old  man,  he 
soon  caught  up  to  him  without  his  knowing  it. 

Murray  halted  at  a  little  distance,  ready  to  behold  and 
enjoy  die  discomfiture  of  Mole. 

The  reader  must  be  informed  that  die  venerable  Isaac  was 
dien  experimenting  upon  a  new  substitute  for  those  unfort- 
unate much  damaged  members,  his  cork  legs. 

An  American  genius,  witii  whom  he  had  recently  made 
acquaintance  in  die  town,  had  induced  Mole  to  try  a 


undistoguishable-everiastiDg  cork  legs. 

The  inventor  had  helped  Mr.  Mole  to  put  on  tiiese  for 
midable  **  understandings,"  and  given  him  every  instruction 
witii  regard  to  tiieir  management. 

"They'll  be  a  little  creaky  at  first,"  said  die  American ; 
**  nothing  in  nature  works  slick  when  it's  quite  new,  but  when 
you  get  'em  well  into  wear,  they'll  go  along  like  greased 
lightning ;  now  try  diem,  old  boss." 

Creaky  indeed  diey  were,  for  tiiey  made  a  noise  almost  as 
loud  as  a  railway  break ;  but  what  was  even  worse  was  tiiat 
die  Yankee  had  failed  to  inform  Mole  of  die  fact  dial  the 
**  new  patent "  etc,  were  only  fitted  to  act  perf ecdy  on  a 


134  YOUNG  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

Now  the  roadway,  or  footway — for  they  are  all  the  same 
in  those  old  Turkish  towns — are  the  very  reverse  of  smooth, 
being  principally  composed  of  round  nubbly  stones. 

Consequently  Mole's  locomotion  was  the  reverse  of 
pleasant. 

Chivey  crept  up  behind  the  old  schoolmaster,  and  seizing 
an  opportunity  and  one  of  his  legs,  gave  it  a  pull,  which 
caused  Mole  to  roar  with  fright. 

Down,  of  course,  came  Mole  on  the  nubbly  pavement,  but 
Chivey  didn't  have  exactly  the  fun  he  expected,  for  instead 
of  his  getting  safely  away,  Mole  fell  on  him. 

"  Oh,  it's  you,  is  it  ?  You,  the  bad  servant  of  a  bad  man's 
wicked  son,"  exclaimed  the  angered  tutor;  "it's  you  who 
dare  to  set  upon  defenceless  age  and  innocence,  with  its  new 
cork  legs  on  ?  Very  good.  Then  take  that,  and  I  hope  you 
won't  like  it." 

Whereat  he  began  pommelling  away  at  Chivey. 

Chivey  roared  with  all  his  might,  till  a  small  crowd  of 
wondering  onlookers  began  to  collect. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  daring  to  assault  my  servant  in 
this  manner  ? "  asked  Murray  sternly,  as  he  came  up. 

"  He  attacked  me  first,"  protested  Mole ;  "  and  it's  my 
belief  you  set  him  on  to  do  it." 

"  How  dare  you  insinuate "  begun  Murray,  and  he 

violently  shook  the  old  man  by  the  collar. 

But  there  was  more  spirit  in  Mole  than  Herbert  was  pre- 
pared for. 

By  the  aid  of  a  post,  the  old  man  managed  to  struggle  to 
his  feet,  and  leaning  against  this,  he  felt  he  could  defy  the 
enemy. 

"  My  lad,"  he  said,  "  it's  evident  that  you  didn't  get  enough 
flogging  when  you  were  at  school,  or  you'd  know  better 
manners  ;  I  must  take  you  in  hand  a  bit  now,  sir,  there  !  " 

With  his  stick  he  gave  a  cut  to  the  palm  of  Murray's  hand, 
just  as  he  was  wont  to  do  to  refractory  pupils  in  the  old 
days. 

Murray  was  livid  with  rage. 

Chivey,  now  rather  afraid  of  Mole,  didn't  interfere. 

"  Come  on,  if  you  like,  and  have  some  more,"  said  Mole, 
and  shaking  his  stick  at  both  of  them,  he  again  urged  on  his 
wild  career. 

Very  wild  indeed  it  was,  too. 

Mole's  patent  legs,  which  outwardly  looked  natural  ones, 


fffS  BOY  TINKER.  135 

were  indeed  self-regulating,  for  they  were  soon  utterly  beyond 
the  control  of  the  wearer ;  they  seemed  to  be  possessed  of 
wills  of  their  own ;  one  wished  to  go  to  the  right,  the  other 
to  the  left. 

Sometimes  they  would  carry  him  along  in  doable  quick 
march  time,  and  anon  hah,  beyond  all  his  power  of  budg- 
ing. 

Of  course  the  boys  of  the  town  were  attracted  by  the 
stranger's  singular  movements,  and  began  to  hoot  and  jeer. 

The  merchants  were  interrupted  at  their  calculations,  the 
bazaar  keepers  cazne  to  their  doors,  long  pipe  in  mouth,  to 
see  what  the  "  son  of  Sheitan  "  was  about. 

Mole  was  red  in  the  face  with  such  hard  work. 

"  Confound  the  Turks,"  he  cried ;  "  why  don't  they  make 
their  roads  smoother  ?  Oh,  dear,  I  wish  I  could  minify: 
these  unhappy  legs  ;  there  they  go." 

By  this  time  the  crowd  had  become  unpleasantly  dense 
around  him. 

"  Out  of  the  way,  un-Christian  dogs,"  cried  Mole,  flourish- 
ing his  stick  round  his  head  ;  **  I'm  an  Englishman,  and 
Fve  a  right  to — hallo !  there  it  goes  again." 

For  here  his  left  leg  took  two  steps  to  the  right,  and  he 
came  down  with  all  his  weight  upon  the  toe  of  a  white-bearded 
Alla-hissite. 

-Son  of  a  dog,"  growled  the  old  Turk,  as  he  rubbed  his 
pet  corn  in  agony ;  'may  vour  mother's  grave  be  defiled,  and 
the  jackass  bray  over  jW  father's  bones." 

"  I  really  beg  your  pardon,*9  began  Mole,  but  just  at  this 
moment  his  right  leg  was  taken  with  a  spasmodic  action, 
and  began  to  stride  along  at  a  furious  rate,  creaking  like 


Mole  lost  all  control  (if  he  ever  had  any)  over  his  own 
movements,  and  was  carried  forward  again,  till  he  came 
where  Herbert  Murray  and  Chivey,  having  made  a  tktour, 
happened  to  be  just  turning  the  corner  of  the  street. 

**  Stop  me,"  yelled  Mole,  as  he  flourished  his  stick  over 
his  head  ;  "  my  spring  legs  are  doing  what  they  like  with  me. 
Oh.  dear, 


I  have  no  control  over  them.     Oh.  dear,  they  are  at  it  again. 

Chivey,  undeterred  by  his  recent  castigation,  thought  he 
would  repeat  the  trick,  so,  when  Mole  came  up,  he,  by  a  dex- 
terous jerk,  turned  him  round  as  on  a  pivot. 

He  was  thus  stopped  in  his  forward  course,  but  this  didn't 
check  the  action  of  his  clockwork  legs,  which  now  scudded 


136  YOUNG  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

along  as  swiftly  as  before,  into  the  very  heart  of  the  yelling 
crowd. 

The  result  was  rather  bad  for  the  Turks  ;  they  went  down 
like  a  lot  of  ninepins  before  Mole's  railway-like  progression. 

"  A  mad  Christian,"  they  cried  ;  "  he  is  possessed  with  a 
devil  ;  down  with  him." 

The  perspiration  streamed  from  Mole's  face  ;  he  felt  that 
if  the  spring-work  in  his  new  cork  legs  did  not  stop,  he 
should  die. 

At  this  moment  a  body  of  women  approached,  closely 
veiled. 

Their  yashmaks  obscured  all  but  their  eyes,  which  could  be 
seen  to  open  wide  in  wonder  at  the  extraordinary  behaviour 
of  the  red-faced  giaour. 

Two  of  the  younger  and  slender  ones  fell  with  piercing 
screams  before  Mole's  impetuous  charge. 

A  third,  a  stout  woman  of  middle  age,  stood  her  ground, 
and  Mole,  before  he  could  stop  himself,  rushed  into  her 
arms,  and  floored  her. 

The  scream  she  gave  surpassed  in  loudness  that  of  all  the 
others  put  together  ;  and  brought  up  several  ferocious-look- 
ing Turks,  bent  on  condignly  punishing  the  outrageous  con- 
duct of  the  mad  Englishman. 

"  Death  to  the  giaour  ;  down  with  him  !  "  roared  the  ex- 
cited crowd. 

What  fate  he  would  have  suffered  we  dread  to  think,  but 
he  found  an  unexpected  deliverer  in  the  person  of  the  old 
white-bearded  Turk,  whose  corns  he  had  trodden  on. 

"  Defile  not  your  hands  with  the  blood  of  the  unbeliever," 
he  said  ;  "  but  take  him  before  the  cadi  to  answer  his  con- 
duct." 

"  To  the  cadi,  to  the  cadi  !  "  was  now  the  cry. 

"  Hear  me,"  said  Mole,  astonishing  himself  by  his  pro- 
ficiency in  Turkish  ;  "  I  am  not  to  blame,  but  at  all  events, 
take  up  those  two  other  Englishmen  who  assaulted  me." 

He  pointed  to  Murray  and  Chivey,  who  had  by  this  time 
got  into  a  dense  crowd  of  Turks,  whom  they  were  elbowing 
in  an  angry  manner. 

"Take  all  the  infidels  before  the  cadi,"  cried  the  Turks. 

Herbert  Murray  and  Chivey  were  accordingly  seized,  and 
the  whole  three  borne  off  to  one  doom. 

The  cadi  was  seated  in  his  divan,  administering  justice,  as 
•was  his  custom,  in  the  open  air. 


BUS  BOY  TINKER.  137 

His  style  of  doing  so  was  summary,  but  vigorous. 

"Let  the  giaour,  who  has  unwarrantably  assaulted  the 
true  believers,  received  one  hundred  lashes,"  he  said  ;  *  or 
pay  fifty  pieces  of  silver  to  our  treasury." 

-  I  haven't  got  the  money,"  said  Mole, 

-  Then  receive  the  punishment,"  said  the  cadi. 

This  time  there  was  no  ceremony  used;  two  negroes 
bound  Mote,  pulled  off  his  shoes  and  stockings,  and  exposed 
to  view  the  new  patent  steel  clock-work  tegs. 

"ADah,  what  have  we  here?"  cried  the  cadi  *  Is  the 
fhrictian  fmf^mnt^A  to  be  half  man,  half  machinery?" 

"My  lord,"  said  Mole,  "  if  youTl  only  permit  me  to  speak, 
m  explain  aH. 

"  Having  lost  my  tegs  in  the  wars,  helping  the  Turks  to 
beat  their  foes,  I  have  been  induced  to  try  as  a  substitute 
this  new  invention,  and  behold,  the  tegs  were  enchanted,  and 
I  had  no  control  over  them." 

"  Allah  kerim!    Can  this  be?"  exclaimed  the  cadi 

"That  was  the  whole  reason  of  mv  conduct,  your  excel- 
lency."  pursued  Mote;  "otherwise,  I  would  perish  sooner 
than  have  attacked  true  believers.  But  these  infidels,"  he 
added,  pointing  to  Murray  and  Chivey,  "  first  attacked  me, 
as  many  here  may  bear  witness." 

-  If  that  be  so,"  said  the  magistrate,  "  we  will  remit  your 
sentence  on  pavment  of  fifty  sequins." 

"Gladly  would  I  pay  the  sum  if  I  had  it,"  said  Mote;  "but 
I  haven't." 

"  Search  him,"  cried  the  cadi 


Mote  was  searched,  but  the  investigations  of  the  officer 

um  in  his 
four 

enough,"  grumbled 
but  as  it  is  all  you  have,  I  consent  to  take  it.    We  must 


, 

could  not  bring  to  light  a  greater  sum  in  his  pockets  than  a 
bad  sixpence  and  a  battered  fourpenny-piece. 

Lhrte  enouh,"  grumbled  the  cadi,  pocketing  the  amount  ; 


have  it  out  of  the  other  infidels  ;  they  too  are  English,  and 
look  rich.  Bring  them  before  me." 

Herbert  Murray  and  Chivey  were  accordingly  examined. 

Mote  gave  evidence  as  to  their  assaulting  him,  though  they 
utterly  denied  doing  so,  but  Mote's  statement  being  backed 
up  by  several  believers  who  had  witnessed  h,  the  judge  de- 
clared both  guilty,  and  sentenced  them  to  the  bastinado. 

"Me  bastinadoed!"  exclaimed  the  indignant  Murray. 
"  Fd  have  you  know,  sir,  that  I'm  an  Englishman  of  rank, 
of  influence,  of  propalj,  and  -  ~  ' 


1 38  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"  Of  influence,  eh  ?  Very  good  ;  then  you'll  have  to  pay  a 
fine  of  five  hundred  sequins,"  cried  the  cadi,  exultantly. 

"  I  swear  that  I  haven't " 

"  Search  the  infidels,"  cried  the  cadi. 

The  officers  did  so,  and  altogether  twenty-five  pounds,  in 
gold,  notes  and  silver,  were  found  upon  Murray  and  Chivey. 

With  an  audible  chuckle,  the  cadi  took  possession  of  it  all. 

"  There,"  he  said ;  "  so  now  go  in  peace,  all  of  you ;  and  if 
I  find  you  making  another  disturbance  in  the  town,  it  will  be 
bastinado  and  gaol,  as  well  as  a  fine.  Go,  infidels,  and  re- 
member the  grand  Turk." 


CHAPTER  LXXXII. 

THE  CONSPIRATORS— THE  DEED — THE  FALSE  INFORMERS. 

THF.  walls  of  Alla-hissar  gleamed  in  the  noontide  heat. 

The  air  was  heavy  with  sleep,  which  weighed  upon  all 
living  things,  and  made  them  seek  shelter  from  the  burning 
sun. 

All  was  still  in  the  city. 

It  seemed  as  if  the  spirit  of  death  brooded  over  all  the 
habitations. 

Yet  there  were  some  awake  at  that  dreary  hour. 

Gathered  together  at  one  of  the  principal  houses  in  secret 
conclave  were  some  of  the  chief  Turks  of  the  province. 

In  spite  of  the  heat,  the  heavy  curtains  covered  the  door- 
ways. 

The  door  was  shaded,  and  the  assembly  spoke  in  subdued 
tones. 

At  length  Ibrahim  Bey,  a  grave  old  Turk,  subtle  and  reso- 
lute, arose. 

"  It  is  sacred  then,  friends,"  he  said,  looking  round  at  the 
assembly  ;  "  the  deed  must  be  done,  and  the  hour  is  at  hand." 

"  Such  is  the  will  of  Allah,"  was  the  reply  of  the  conspira- 
tors. 

"  'Tis  decided  then,  that  Moley  Pasha,  our  new  governor, 
has,  since  he  has  assumed  power,  done  all  he  could  to 
destroy  our  old  customs,  and  introduce  the  manners  of  the 
infidel  Franks,  therefore  he  must  die." 

"  He  must  die,"  murmured  the  assembly. 

"  Allah's  will  be  done,"  said  old  Ibrahim,  turning  up  his 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  139 


party. 

"  I  wiU  do  it,"  he  said,  in  a  firm  voice  ;  "  he  dies  ere  an- 
other hour  has  sped.  I  will  risk  the  deadly  danger,  if  you 
will  guarantee,  that  if  I  succeed,  I  shall  be  rewarded." 

"  That  is  but  just,"  said  Ibrahim  Bey.  "  Should  it  be  his 
sacred  majesty's  pleasure  that  I  succeed  Moley,  a  post  of 
honour  shall  be  the  guerdon  of  your  bravery." 

"I  accept  the  terms,"  said  Abdullah  :  "  I  know  a  secret 
way  into  the  palace,  I  have  a  disguise  and  a  dagger  ;  doubt 
not  my  courage  for  the  rest.  Wait  here,  my  friends,  and  ere 
another  hour  strikes,  I  shall  return  to  say  the  deed  is  done." 

He  glided  from  the  room,  leaving  the  others  wondering  at 
die  cool  audacity  with  which  he  undertook  so  desperate  and 
criminal  a  deed. 

The  angel  of  sleep  had  spread  her  wings  over  the  fT^-nglflE 
of  Moley  Pasha. 

The  veiled  beauties  of  the  harem  had  retired  to  theiz 
luxurious  rooms. 

The  pasha  slept  soundly  and  peacefully. 

Well  for  him  had  his  dreams  warned  him  against  the  peril 
that  hovered  over  him  like  a  black  shadow. 

For  the  form  of  a  woman,  tall,  thin,  closely-veiled,  glided 
along  the  passages  of  the  harem. 

Her  steps  gave  forth  no  sound,  and  she  disturbed  not  the 
sleeping  servants. 

She  glided  like  a  smooth  serpent,  or  an  invisible  spirit; 
her  presence  was  unseen,  unfelt,  unsuspected. 

She  enters  the  inner  chamber  where  lies  the  unconscious 

sha, 

She  bends  over  him,  she  draws  forth  a  knife,  slender,  taper- 
almost like  a  needle. 
still  slept  on,  the  fountain  outside  made  sweet 


ng  to  a  point  almost  like  a  needle. 
The  pasha  still  slept  on,  the  fou 
ic,  heard  through  the  curtains  and  windows. 


A  smDe  played  upon  the  pasha's  lips. 
He  was  dreaming,  perchance,  of  the  rosy  bowers  and  die 
dark-eyed  hour  is  of  Paradise. 

Suddenly  die  knife  descended,  diere  was  die  flash  of  a 
oment,  white 


it  hovered  like  a  hawk  over  its  quarry,  die 
next  instant  it  was  buried  in  die  pasha's  heart. 

A  deep  groan  was  die  only  effort  of  expiring  nature. 


140  YOUNG  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

The  fiercely  flashing  eyes,  and  a  part  of  the  face  of  the 
murderer  were  now  exposed ;  the  dress  was  that  of  a  woman, 
but  the  form  and  features  were  those  of  Abdullah  the  inter- 
preter. 

For  a  moment  he  stood  gazing  on  his  deed,  then  lifted  some 
tapestry  which  concealed  a  small  door,  and  disappeared. 


What  cry  was  that  which  startles  the  seraglio  from  its 
siesta  ? 

What  combined  lamentation  disturbs  the  whole  palace 
with  its  harrowing  intensity  ? 

All  the  inmates  of  the  establishment  have  been  rudely 
awakened  from  their  slumbers. 

It  was  the  pasha's  favourite  wife  who  had  broken  in  upon 
the  privacy  of  her  lord,  and  she  had  found  him  dead. 

Dead,  plainly  by  the  assassin's  dagger,  but  what  assassin, 
none  could  even  suspect. 

None  could  conjecture  by  what  means  any  stranger  could 
have  obtained  entrance  and  exit. 

Then  arose  that  dreadful  wail  of  despair,  that  beating  of 
breasts,  and  tearing  of  tresses. 

The  news  soon  spread,  and  the  whole  town  was  in  a  fever 
of  commotion. 

Who  had  done  the  deed  ? 

Who  was  to  be  Moley  Pasha's  successor  ? 

The  conspirators  played  their  parts  well. 

Ibrahim  Bey  pretended  to  be  terribly  amazed  and  shocked  : 
he  refused  to  be  placed  at  the  head  of  affairs  until  the 
sultan's  will  should  be  known,  and  he  offered  rewards  for 
the  discovery  of  the  assassin. 

A  council,  consisting  of  Ibrahim  and  others,  was  now 
established  to  temporarily  rule  the  town. 

A  grand  funeral,  at  which  all  the  dignitaries  of  the  place 
attended,  was  given  to  the  unfortunate  pasha,  the  evening 
after  his  assassination. 

The  same  night  arrived  a  firman  from  the  sultan,  pro- 
claiming Ibrahim  Pasha  of  Allahissar. 

Such  is  the  perilous  nature  of  the  power  and  dignity  in 
Eastern  lands. 

Ibrahim  at  once  appointed  Abdullah  his  vizier,  and  gave 
all  the  other  conspirators  important  posts. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  141 

Several  perfectly  innocent  men  were  arrested  and  hanged 
on  a  pretended  suspicion  of  having  caused  the  late  pasha's 
death. 

At  the  first  divan  held  by  the  new  pasha,  two  Englishmen 
were  announced,  who  were  said  to  be  the  bearers  of  important 
evidence  about  the  murder. 

They  were  admitted  accordingly,  and  proved  to  be  no 
others  than  Murray  and  Chivey. 

"  Christians,  you  are  welcome,"  said  Ibrahim,  through  his 
new  vizier.  "  Allah  in  his  wisdom  hath  sent  you  hither, 
wherefore  discover  your  knowledge." 

Murray  bowed,  and  seated  himself  upon  a  chair  pointed 
out  to  him  by  the  pasha. 

Chivey,  as  a  servant,  wasn't  honoured  with  a  seat,  whereat 
he  murmured,  half  to  himself — 

"  Well,  they  might  let  a  cove  sit  down,  and  if  they  offered 
us  a  drop  of  something  cool  this  hot  weather,  it  wouldn't 
come  unwelcome." 

Reclining  on  his  divan  in  the  old  Turkish  style,  and 
smoking  his  hookah^  Ibrahim  listened  to  Murray's  communi- 
cation. 

"  It  may  already  be  known  to  your  excellency  that  there 
is  in  your  dominions  a  young  scapegrace  of  an  English- 
man, named  Jack  Harkaway.  He  has  surrounded  himself 
with  many  doers  of  evil,  worse  even  than  himself,  amongst 
whom  is  an  old  scoundrel,  formerly  a  schoolmaster,  who, 
though  he  has  lost  both  his  legs,  still  continues  to  go  about, 
and  get  into  mischief." 

"  The  audacious  giaour  who  dared  to  impersonate  Moley 
Pasha  ?  "  asked  Ibrahim. 

"  The  same,"  continued  Murray.  "  Well,  I  have  received 
proofs  that  it  was  this  Harkaway  and  his  friend  who  mur- 
dered the  real  Moley  Pasha." 

"  Shade  of  Eblis  I "  exclaimed  Ibrahim,  pretending  to  be 
much  shocked.  "This  must  be  seen  to;  Christian,  pro- 
ceed." 

"Harkaway  was  once  my  friend,"  continued  Murray, 
"  and  it  is  quite  against  my  will  to  speak  against  him  ;  but 
my  love  of  justice  is  above  all  other  considerations." 

"  Christian,"  said  Ibrahim,  "  proceed." 

"  In  the  harem  of  your  illustrious  predecessor,"  said 
Murray,  "there  lately  resided  a  Greek  girl,  of  exquisite 
beauty,  named  Thyra,  a  pearl  of  delight,  a  peri  of  Paradise, 


1 42  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY  A  ND 

and  she  was  bewitched  by  this  Harkaway,  who,  how  wv, 
know  not,  penetrated  within  the  sacred  precincts  of  his 
highness's  harem,  and  stole  her  away." 

"  Vengeance  of  Allah  !  but  he  deserves  death !  "  exclaimed 
the  pasha,  half  rising,  and  his  eyes  flashing  with  anger. 

"  But,  your  eminence,  to  make  his  crime  complete,  he  com< 
mitted  another ;  he  stabbed  the  pasha  to  the  heart." 

"  By  the  sword  of  the  prophet,  he  dies !  "  exclaimed 
Ibrahim  ;  "  but  what  proof  hast  thou  of  all  this  ?  " 

"  I  can  bring  several  witnesses  to  the  truth  of  what  I  say," 
said  Murray.  "  If  any  other  proof  were  wanting,  Thyra,  the 
pearl  beyond  price,  disappeared  from  the  palace  the  very 
day,  the  very  hour  of  the  pasha's  death,  and  she  is  now  at 
the  residence  of  Harkaway  and  his  friends." 

"  Please,  your  worship,"  here  broke  in  Chivey,  "  if  you'll 
let  me  have  my  talk,  I'll  prove  it,  as  sure  as  eggs  are  eggs." 

"  The  giaour's  servant  entreats  your  highness  to  listen  to 
the  words  of  truth,"  was  the  way  in  which  the  astute  Abdullah 
translated  this  appeal. 

Chivey  gave  his  evidence,  a  story  carefully  concocted 
between  him  and  his  master,  and  to  this  was  added  the  con- 
firmation of  several  natives  of  the  town,  men  who  would 
swear  black  was  white,  for  a  dollar  or  two. 

Of  course,  old  Mole  was  represented  as  Harkaway's  chief 
adviser,  and  his  aider  and  abettor  in  the  late  pasha's  death. 

This  story,  of  course,  did  not  really  impose  upon  Ibrahim 
Pasha ;  he  knew  more  of  the  actual  facts  than  Murray  could 
do,  but  it  served  his  turn  to  pretend  to  believe  it,  so  he 
thanked  Murray  for  his  information. 

Abdullah  (the  real  assassin^  was  so  profound  a  dissembler, 
so  utterly  devoid  of  conscience,  that  he  put  down,  at 
Murray's  dictation,  the  names  of  the  innocent  Harkaway  and 
his  friends,  remarking  calmly — 

"  I  think  we  have  got  hold  of  the  right  criminals  at  last.'* 

"We  will  send  and  have  them  arrested  at  once,"  said 
Ibrahim.  "  Vizier,  let  these  Christians  be  rewarded  for  their 
information  by  a  purse  of  gold,  and  despatch  an  armed  force 
to  the  lair  of  those  English  dogs,  who  have  slain  my  lamented 
predecessor.  And,  Vizier,  don't  forget,  whatever  you  do,  to 
bring  the  beautiful  Thyra  to  me." 

"  Pasha,  to  hear  is  to  obey,"  said  Abdullah. 

"  Ha,  ha  !  I  think  we've  done  for  the  Harkaway  party  this 
time,"  said  Murray  gleefully  to  Chivey. 


HJS  BOY  TINKER. 


'43 


"  It  was  a  capital  dodge,  I  must  say,"  answered  Chivey, 
"although  my  belief  is  that  Ibrahim  Passher  is  an  old 
rascal,  and  knows  who  really  did  for  the  last  governor." 

"  Keep  all  such  suspicions  to  yourself,"  said  Murray. 

In  a  short  time  the  captain  of  the  pasha's  guards,  with  a 
detachment  of  troops,  marched  out  to  arrest  our  hero  and 
his  friends. 

The  news  spread  like  wildfire  that  the  murderers  of  the 
late  pasha  had  at  length  been  discovered. 


CHAPTER  LXXXIII. 

JACK   HAS   TO   STAND  A   SIEGE. 

AND  how  far  were  Jack  Harkaway  and  his  friends  really 
guilty  in  this  matter  ? 

It  was  indeed  true  that  Thyra,  the  beautiful  Greek  slave 
before  alluded  to,  had  fled  from  the  harem  of  the  late 
pasha. 

But  this  had  nothing  at  all  to  do  with  his  assassination. 

No  doubt  Thyra  cherished  a  strong  attachment  for  young 
Jack,  having  found  a  refuge  in  the  same  house. 

She  could  not  overcome  it. 

'*  I  throw  myself  upon  your  protection,"  she  said.  "  If  I 
returned  to  my  master's,  my  fate  would  be  instant  death,  but 
that  would  be  preferable  to  living  without  you,  and  be  for 
ever  separated  from  you." 

Jack  was  much  embarrassed. 

He  told  her,  gently  as  he  could,  that  her  love  was  hopeless, 

"  Oh,  do  not  say  that,"  cried  Thyra,  bursting  into  tears. 
u  Do  not  send  me  away ;  I'm  ready  to  be  your  slave,  and 
obey  your  every  word." 

Jack  consulted  with  his  friends  under  this  difficult  and 
delicate  condition  of  affairs,  and  they  all  agreed  that 
Thyra  must  not  be  given  up  to  the  pasha. 

An  hour  afterwards,  the  report  of  his  murder  made  matters 
still  more  serious. 

But  he  never  dreamed  that  any  suspicion  of  the  actual 
crime  would  be  turned  against  himself. 

It  was  therefore  agreed  to  keep  Thyra  in  close  concealment, 
ontil  an  opportunity  offered  to  get  her  back  to  her  friends. 


1 44  YOUNG  JA  CK  HA RKA  WA  Y  AND 

The  house  occupied  by  Harkaway  and  his  friends  was, 
like  most  Oriental  edifices,  built  for  endurance. 

The  walls  were  thick  and  strong  as  those  of  a  castle. 

The  doorway  was  narrow,  and  led  into  a  square  courtyard 
or  garden,  and  with  a  fountain  in  the  centre. 

Into  this  yard  most  of  the  rooms  opened. 

The  windows  facing  the  street  were  mere  loopholes. 

The  roof  was  flat,  and  in  the  evening  formed  a  favourite 
lounge,  approached  by  a  flight  of  steps,  from  one  angle  of 
the  court. 

It  is  necessary  to  be  particular  in  describing  the  house, 
that  our  readers  may  fully  understand  what  follows. 

Jack  Harkaway  was  one  morning  in  the  courtyard,  near 
the  centre,  with  Harry  Girdwood,  looking  at  a  heap  of  curious 
weapons,  which  they  had  purchased  when  roaming  about  the 
bazaars. 

"  Why,  we've  got  quite  an  armory  here,"  said  Harry  Gird- 
wood.  "  It's  a  pity  we  haven't  got  some  fighting  to  do  to 
use  them." 

"  I  mean  to  make  the  place  into  a  kind  of  fortress,"  said 
Jack.  "  Here,  Bogey." 

"  What  you  after,  Massa  Jack  ?  "  asked  the  nigger,  appear- 
ing instantly. 

"  Go  and  take  charge  of  the  gate,  and  don't  let  anyone  pass 
in  or  out  without  my  order." 

"  Right  you  are,  massa ;  me  keep  him  safe  as  a  sentrybox," 
answered  the  darkey. 

And  he  started  off  to  take  up  the  post  assigned  to 
him. 

Jack  next  summoned  Tinker. 

"  Serve  us  up  our  dinner  here  under  the  trees,"  said  Jack  ; 
*'  and  be  quick  about  it,  you  rascal,  or " 

"  Understand  puffeckly,  massa,"  responded  the  black. 
"  To  hear  yer  is  to  obey  yer,  as  dese  Turkeys  say.  Yah, 
yah." 

It  was  very  pleasant  to  sit  down  to  their  repast  under  the 
refreshing  shade  of  the  trees. 

Of  course  Mr.  Mole  and  the  orphan,  as  well  as  Thyra, 
the  waiter  and  the  diver,  were  summoned  and  came  at  this 
juncture. 

The  orphan  and  Mole  appeared  arm-in-arm. 

Mr.  Mole  had  a  black  bottle  in  one  hand  and  a  tall  glass 
in  the  other. 


He  looked  very  jolly,  whilst  the  orphan  appeared  rather 
•ebncholj,  for  his  flute  had  got  slightly  cracked 

*-  Have  a  drop  to  raise  yam  spirits,"  said  the  Mhonlm  ulu, 
fining  him  a  brimmer,  and  fairly  foiling  it  into  his  hand. 

The  orphan  could  not  refuse  so  pressing  an  invitation. 

He  drained  the  glass,  and  as  it  came  upon  the  top  of 
several  more,  its  effect  upon  him  was  not  inconsiderable. 

Intending  to  walk  straight  to  the  table,  he  walked,  instead, 
extremely  "  slantindicidar,"  tffl  lurching  op  against  the 
foratain  as  be  passed  it,  he  stnmbkd  ore  its  ledge,  and  fell 
with  a  splash  into  the  middle  of  its  basin 

Mr.  Mole,  with  the  best  intentions  in  the  world,  rushed  to 


stfll  uncontrollable,  and  his  head  unsteady  also,  he  fell  back- 
wards, smashing  bis  wine  bottle  on  the  stones  of  the  court 
yard. 

The  scene  was  certainly  ludicrous,  and  efidted  much 
laughter  from  the  spectators. 

They,  however,  helped  the  orphan  out  of  his  *'  "'••  ••-••! 
and  very  unwelcome  bath,  which,  lhn»Bh  it  had  di  cached 
him,  had  also  sobered  him. 

Mole  was  also  assisted  to  re-assume  an  erect  posture,  and 
in  a  short  time,  both  of  them  were  mlfii  •*  *Aj  ••*  •  **»•  *«i  t  ». 
take  their  places  at  the  table. 

Mole  and  rlggms  seemed  somewhat  struck  by  the  warlike 
appearance  of  the  place 

-'What  are  yon  going  to  do  with  all  that  codery?"  in- 
quired Mr.  Mole. 

"Perhaps  yon  mean  to  set  up  in  the  scissors  trade?'* 
suggested  the  mi>"t-"T_ 

-You'll  see  by  and  by,  old  man,-  answered  our  hero. 
••  We  shaO  find  'em  useful,  perhaps  sooner  than  you  expect." 

-Oh,  dear!    I  hope  not,"  exclaimed  Figgins.    Tin  sure 


I  don't  want  any  more  fighting;  I  have  had  more  than  is 
good  for  my  health." 

The  waiter  now  took  up  his  accustomed  duty  of  »tt»mJp^ 
on  the  guests. 

The  diver,  at  Jack's  request,  summoned  Tbyra,  whose 
fia«g*»  features,  slffmipr  form,  and  Eastern  garb,  woe.  well  in 
keeping  with  the  scene  around. 

A  seat  of  honour  was  kept  for  her  at  the  a2frcu9  \**n*f*+m 
to  which  Jack  gallantly  conducted  her. 
10 


1 46  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

No  one  could  doubt  her  love  for  him,  for  it  shone  out  in 
her  slightest  action,  her  very  words,  and  look,  and  tone. 
It  seemed  a  pity  that  he  could  not  return  it,  otherwise  than 
by  studied  politeness  and  consideration. 

To  be  at  his  side,  to  hear  the  sound  of  his  voice,  was  her 
greatest  happiness,  and  made  her  forget  all  other  dangers 
and  troubles. 

When  towards  the  conclusion  of  the  meal,  Jack  proceeded 
to— 

"  Fill  high  the  bowl  with  Samian  wine," 

and  hand  it  to  Thyra,  it  was  to  her  a  moment  of  supreme 
pleasure. 

Her  dark  eyes  sparkled,  her  soft  cheek  flushed,  and  her 
jewelled  fingers  trembled  as  they  held  the  crystal  glass,  filled 
with  what,  for  his  sake,  and  independent  of  its  own  nature, 
was  to  her  as  the  nectar  of  the  gods. 

"Hark!  What  noise  is  that  ?"  asked  Jack,  with  such 
suddenness,  that  Thyra  spilt  some  of  the  wine  ere  it  could 
reach  her  lips. 

There  was  indeed  a  sound  in  the  street  like  the  blended 
hum  of  many  voices,  and  tread  of  many  feet,  each  moment 
becoming  louder. 

"  Perhaps  it  is  some  procession,"  said  Harry  Girdwood. 

"  Or  a  march  round  of  the  troops  before  the  new  pasha," 
said  Mole,  "  Oh,  how  I  pity  him." 

"  No,  there's  something  up  more  dreadful  than  that,  I  am 
sure,"  exclaimed  the  orphan.  "Oh,  this  terrible  country. 
I'll  go  home  to-morrow  if  they'll  only  let  me." 

"  Here,  Tinker,  you  black  son  of  a  gun  ;  go  up  on  the  roof, 
and  see  what's  the  matter,"  said  Jack. 

The  nigger  ascended  as  nimbly  as  a  monkey. 

At  that  moment  a  thundering  knock  came  at  the  outer 
gate. 

"  What  you  want  ?  "  asked  Bogey,  still  acting  as  porter. 

"  Open,  in  the  name  of  the  pasha,"  said  a  stern  voice 
outside. 

Bogey  replied  not,  but  ran  in  to  his  master. 

Tinker  and  he  arrived  breathless  at  the  same  moment. 
"  Awful  lot  o'  soldiers — Turks — outside,  big  guns    and 
swords,  massa,"  said  Tinker. 

"  Wants  to  come  in  here,  too,"  added  Bogey.  "  Hark  ! 
Oh,  ain't  they  giving  what  for  at  the  door  ?  They're  at  it 
again,  a-hammerin'  away." 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  147 

And  the  thundering  knocking  was  repeated  loader 
than  before,  and  a  stern  voice  demanding  Thyra,  the 
slave. 

"  Just  as  I  feared,"  cried  Jack ;  "  they've  found  out  where 
Thyra  is,  and  have  come  to  drag  her  back." 

"  Oh,  powers  of  Heaven,  protect  us  all ! "  she  exclaimed, 
nervously  clutching  Jack's  arm.  u  Am  I  unfortunate  enough, 
dear  Jack,  to  have  brought  you  into  this  great  peril  ?  I  en- 
treat you  to  save  yourselves  by  surrendering  me ;  only  dome 
one  favour ;  let  one  of  your  number  shoot  me  dead  as  soon 
as  I  am  in  the  enemy's  hands." 

"  Impossible,  dear  Thyra ! ?>  said  Jack.  "  Do  you  think, 
as  a  Boy  of  England,  it  is  possible  for  me  to  act  in  that  cow- 
ardly way  ?  No ;  we  must  make  a  gallant  resistance.  Sure- 
ly we  are  well  prepared ;  here  are  arms  enough  for  alL 
Where's  the  Irish  diver  ?  " 

"  Here,  your  honour,  ready  for  any  row  that's  goinV 

"  Mr.  Mole,  you  can  handle  a  gun,"  said  Jack ;  "  here  is 
one  that  will  just  suit  you." 

The  waiter  and  the  orphan  were  also  accommodated  with 
weapons,  but  the  orphan  thought  he  would  rather  load  the 
guns  than  fire  them  off. 

"  Quick !  get  all  the  movables,  and  place  them  against  the 
gate,"  said  Jack.  "  With  its  own  strength,  its  bolts,  and  bars, 
and  keys,  and  a  barricade  behind  it,  we  can  defy  this  band  of 
Turks,  or  the  sultan  himself." 

All  gave  a  cheer  at  these  defiant  words,  and  proceeded 
with  their  impromptu  fortification  with  great  vigour. 

"  I'll  go  up  on  the  roof  and  reconnoitre,"  said  Harry. 

And  dangerous  as  was  this  duty,  he  proceeded  to  it  with 
great  alacrity. 

In  a  few  moments  he  came  down,  with  much  consternation 
on  his  face. 

"This  is  a  bad  job,  Jack,"  he  said;  "worse  than  I 
thought." 

"  How  ?  "  asked  our  hero. 

"  We  are  accused  of  murdering  the  pasha,  as  well  as  carry- 
ing off  the  young  Greek  girL  There  are  over  a  hundred  of 
the  pasha's  troops  on  guard  outside,  with  that  scoundrel  Ab- 
dullah at  the  head  of  them,  and  thousands  of  wild  Moslem 
fanatics,  thirsting  for  our  blood." 

"  I  will  go  and  see  for  myself,"  cried  young  Jack. 

"For  Heaven's  sake,  don't,"  said  Harry,  restraining  him; 


)    fc  YOUNG  JACK  HARKAWAY  AND 

"  t  will  be  certain  death,  for  you,  as  our  leader,  are  the  par- 
tf  ular  object  of  their  animosity." 

Thyra's  entreaties  were  even  more  pressing. 

She  threw  her  arms  round  Jack's  neck,  and  earnestly 
e  treated  him  not  to  risk  his  life. 

"  Dear  Thyra,"  cried  Jack,  "  you  shall  not  be  taken.  I 
*  dl  and  must  protect  you." 

He  sprang  up  the  stairway,  and  was  soon  on  the  roof. 

It  was  a  sight  indeed  to  appal  the  stoutest  heart. 

As  far  as  the  eye  could  reach  was  an  excited  crowd,  rest- 
less, furious,  and  thirsting  for  vengeance. 

In  the  front  were  a  body  of  troops,  inTurkish  uniform,  led 
by  the  captain  of  the  guard  by  whose  side  could  be  recognised 
the  sinister  countenance  of  Abdullah. 

They  caught  sight  of  Jack  Harkaway. 

He  was  recognised. 

A  shout  burst  from  a  thousand  throats  ;  a  deep,  angry  cry, 
like  the  roar  of  a  tempestuous  sea. 

Thousands  of  eyes  flashed  upon  him — the  eyeballs  gleam- 
ing white  from  out  of  the  dusky  skins. 

"  The  murderer  of  the  pasha — the  despoiler  of  the  harem  ! " 
they  cried.  "  Death,  death  to  him,  and  all  the  Christians  ! " 

Jack  endeavoured  to  parley  with  them  ;  but  it  was  useless, 
until  silence  was  obtained  by  the  commands  of  the  captain 
of  the  guard  and  Abdullah,  who  called  out  to  Jack — 

"  Resistance  is  useless  ;  surrender  at  once,  or  I  will  not 
answer  for  your  life." 

"  If  you  want  me,  you  must  come  and  fetch  me,"  returned 
dauntless  Jack. 

"  Your  blood  be  upon  your  own  head,  then,"  said  Ab- 
dullah. 

The  captain  gave  the  word  of  command,  and  the  battering, 
for  a  while  suspended,  was  recommenced  upon  the  door 
below. 


CHAPTER  LXXXIV. 

THE    SIEGE — THE   ESCAPE — A   DESPERATE   RUSE. 

JACK  now  left  his  dangerous  elevation,  and  returned  to  his 
friends. 

"  Quite  as  bad  as  it  can  be,"  he  said  ;  "  there's  nothing  for 
it  but  to  make  a  desperate  resistance,  and  to  die  game." 


fflS  BOY  TINKER.  I4Q 

The  yells  and  shouts  of  the  crowd  outside  were  like  the 
combined  roar  of  a  large  herd  of  wild  beasts. 

The  blows  became  more  furious  on  the  door. 

It  quivered  beneath  the  repeated  shocks;  but  its  own 
strength,  and  that  of  the  fastenings,  and  particularly  the 
barricade  behind  it,  still  defied  the  efforts  of  the  be- 
5:  =  ^:- 

Suddenly  the  liiiMMiiiij,  ceased,  the  yells  of  the  crowd 


Then  came  a  volley  of  musketry. 
They  were  firing  at  the  door. 

The  volleys  came  thick  and  fast;  the  woodwork, strong  as 
it  was,  began  to  be  penetrated  by  die  bullets. 
It  was  clear  the  place  would  soon  be  untenable. 
Should  the  besiegers  enter,  all  hope  of  escape  would  be 

r. 

At  least,  well  return  their  fire,"  said  Jack. 
The  windows  in  the  wall  facing  the  street  were  mere  loop- 


At  each  of  these,  Jack  commanded  one  of  his  men  to  take 
his  stand,  and  pick  off  the  enemy  with  the  rifle. 

It  was  a  dangerous  game,  but  it  served  its  purpose. 

Several  of  the  besiegers  fell  before  the  well-aimed  shots  of 
the  besieged 

The  Turks  began  to  think  that  they  were  being  opposed 
by  a  considerable  force  of  well  armed  men. 

Their  own  shots  failed  to  reach  the  highly-placed  and  nar- 
row windows,  which  were  now  so  many  portholes  for  the  fire 
of  the  besieged. 

The  captain  and  Abdullah  accordingly  ordered  their  troops 
to  fall  back. 

The  excited  crowd  gave  a  yell  of  disappointment. 

"  I  do  believe  we've  defeated  them,  after  all,"  cried  Harry 
Girdwood. 

But  it  was  only  a  lull  in  the  storm — a  fatal  presage  of  over- 
whelming disaster. 

The  Turkish  commanders  now  resolved  to  make  certain  of 
victory  by  bringing  up  a  cannon. 

If,  by  this  means,  their  troops  could  once  effect  an 
entrance — and  this  was  almost  certain — what  could  stop  their 
progress. 

What  were  Harka  way's  mere  handful  of  men  against  the 
they  would  have  to  encounter ! 


150  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

Once  more,  and  at  greater  peril  than  ever,  Jack  went  on 
the  housetop  to  reconnoitre. 

He  laid  himself  down  flat  that  he  might  not  be  seen,  but 
yet  contrived  to  take  a  rapid  glance  of  the  position. 

The  house  was  detached  on  three  sides ;  the  fourth  side  was 
built  against  the  wall  of  a  mosque. 

Upon  those  three  sides  the  building  was  entirely  sur- 
rounded by  troops. 

The  only  chance  of  escape  would  be  by  the  mosque. 

But  how  was  this  to  be  effected  ? 

The  wall  of  the  sacred  building  rose  high  above  that  of  the 
house. 

Jack  raised  himself  to  examine  it  more  closely. 

A  flash — a  report — and  the  whiz  of  a  bullet  told  him  that 
ne  was  observed. 

A  volley  followed  from  all  sides. 

It  would  therefore  be  impossible  for  his  party  to  raise  a 
ladder,  and  thus  escape  from  their  own  roof  on  to  that  of  the 
mosque. 

Jack,  the  bullets  whistling  thickly  around  him,  managed  to 
crawl  unhurt  to  the  trapdoor  and  again  descend  into  the  court- 
yard. 

u  Well,  Jack,  what  think  you  of  the  situation  now  ?  "  asked 
Harry. 

"  Desperate,  indeed." 

"  They  gave  you  a  very  warm  reception,  my  boy,"  said 
Mr.  Mole. 

"  It  will  be  warmer  still  when  they  capture  us,"  said  Hark- 
away. 

"  Oh,  gracious,  gracious  !  how  shall  we  ever  get  out  of  this  ? 
Oh,  dear !  oh,  dear !  I  wish  I  was  in  London  once  more," 
cried  the  orphan,  wringing  his  hands. 

His  distress  contrasted  strongly  with  the  calm,  self- 
possessed  demeanour  of  the  beautiful  Thyra  at  this  time  of 
supreme  peril. 

"  There  is  but  one  thing  we  can  do,"  said  Jack. 

"  What  is  that  ?  "   asked  Harry,  anxiously. 

"  Break  through  that  wall  and  get  into  the  mosque ; 
that's  the  only  side  of  the  building  which  isn't  sur- 
rounded." 

"  But  it  is  impossible  to  pierce  such  a  wall  as  that,"  said 
Harry. 

"  We'll  try,  at  all  events,"  Jack  responded.     "  Come,  boys," 


HIS  BOY  TI&KEK.  15! 

be  added  "  one  last  desperate  effort,  and  well  baffle  'em 
yet." 

The  waiter  and  diver  understood  in  a  minute. 

Hurriedly  they  collected  the  tools— pickaxes,  crowbars, 
chisels,  and  hammers — and  they  all  set  to  work  on  the  ma- 
sonry. 

But  their  momentary  hopes  soon  subsided. 

The  mortar  had.  in  the  coarse  of  ages,  become  eren  harder 
than  the  stone  itstif. 


It  was  impossible  to  make  any 


When  they  saw  this,  disappointment  was  depicted  upon 
every  countenance. 

Jack  flung  down,  in  sheer  despair,  the  chisel  with  which 
he  had  attempted  to  break  the  mortar. 

As  the  implement  fell  upon  the  stones  of  the  courtyard, 
Thyra's  quick  ear  noticed  the  peculiar  sound. 

"It  is  hoDow  beneath  here,"  she  exclaimed,  eagerly. 

Again  testing  the  floor  in  the  same  way,  they  became  con- 
vinced that  she  was  right. 

There  were  probably  vaults  beneath  this  courtyard,  and 
this  stone  «-«WAJ  die  entrance  to  them. 

Animated  by  this  fresh  hope,  the  party  now  worked  away, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  had  lifted  the  ponderous  flagstone. 

A  flight  of  rode  steps,  leading  down  into  utter  darkness, 
was  discovered. 

"As  I  thought,"  cried  Jack,  •these  are  vaults;  we  may 
baffle  them  after  afl.  Bogey,  run  down  immediately  and  see 
what  they  are  like." 

Bogey  VfiN*«-l  not  a  moment,  but  skipped  down  tie 
rude  itept  and  disappeared. 

The  others  waited  his  return  with  great  anxiety. 

At  this  moment,  a  shout  of  triumph  was  raised  by  their 
er.,  —  -  ----- 

It  signified  that  the  cannon  had  been  brought  and  that 
die  aniM"t  would  goon  recommence- 

Tfce  hope  of  escape  was  still  of  the  very  slightest. 

In  a  few  moments  Bogey  returned. 

"Well?"  asked  Jack. 

"AD  cellars,  massa.  gpin*  along— oh.  miles  and  miles 
under  de  earth,  aO  dark,  'cepting  a  bit  of  light  that  comes 
here  and  there  through  little  boles  in  de  roof.  Plenty  of 
room  to  hide  all  of  us,  sar.  Oh,  gofly,  won't  de  nasty  Turks 
BO  «dr" 


132  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"Hurrah  !  down  you  go  immediately,"  said  Jack.  "  Now 
then,  ladies  first.  Harry,  I  commend  Thyra  to  your  care. 
Take  her  down." 

"I  can  not,  will  not  leave  you,  dear  Jack,"  she  cried,  des- 
perately clinging  to  our  hero. 

"  No,  no  ;  I  will  soon  be  with  you.  For  Heaven's  sake. 
Thyra,  do  not  hesitate  now,  or  we  shall  all  be  lost.  Go 
quietly ;  it  is  my  wish." 

Thyra  resisted  no  more,  but  with  Harry's  assistance 
descended  the  steps  into  the  vault. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Mole,  down  you  go,"  said  Jack.  "  Here, 
Figgins,  you  take  his  legs  and  go  first,  or  they'll  be  running 
away  with  him  again.  Tinker,  follow  behind,  supporting  his 
head." 

But  Mr.  Mole  objected  to  this  arrangement. 

"  What !  do  you  think  I'm  an  infant,  to  need  carrying?  " 
he  said,  with  offended  dignity.  "  No,  though  I  have  got 
patent  self-controlling  cork  legs,  I  can  walk  down  by 
myself." 

And  to  prove  this,  he  began  jauntily  descending  the 
steps. 

But  the  next  moment  he  lost  his  footing,  and  with  a  cry, 
tumbled  right  down  to  the  bottom,  on  to  the  body  of  the 
unfortunate  orphan. 

Luckily,  it  was  not  very  far  to  fall,  and  Mr.  Mole  was  very 
little  hurt,  though  Figgins  got  the  worst  of  it. 

"  Now,  boys,  down  you  go,"  cried  Jack.  "  Hark  !  they 
are  battering  down  the  gat  a  with  artillery." 

At  that  moment  a  ball  tore  through  the  doorway,  shattered 
the  top  of  the  barricade,  and  at  length  lodged  in  the  solid 
masonry. 

Yells  of  triumph  broke  from  the  Turks. 

"  Quick  !   Tinker,  Bogey,  for  your  lives  !  "  cried  Jack. 

"  Is  it  that  we  are  to  desart  ye  ! "  cried  the  Irish  diver. 
"  No,  Mr.  Jack,  I'll  see  you  down  first." 

"  Please  make  haste,"  said  Jack  almost  imploringly.  "  Of 
course  I  shall  save  myself ;  but  I'm  the  captain,  you  know, 
and  I  mustn't  leave  the  ship  till  the  last." 

Thus  reassured,  the  rest  descended,  and  no  sooner  was 
the  last  safe  in  the  vault,  than  Jack  Harkaway  shut  down 
the  stone  in  its  place,  thus  closing  the  opening. 

Then  he  hastily  laid  earth  in  the  interstices  round  it,  and 
tried  to  efface  all  signs  of  its  having  been  recently  removed. 


HIS  BOY  TIA'KER.  1^3 

With  equal  rapidity,  he  gathered  up  the  crowbars,  niseis, 
e:: 

All  this  tune  the  firing  continued. 

The  door  would  soon  give  way  and  the  enemy  poor  into 
the  courtyard. 

Was  oar  hero  mad,  thus  to  remain  behind  while  his  friends 
escaped? 

Xo. 

His    conduct    was  part  of  a  desperate  and  deep-laid 


le  saw  that  if  be  had  followed  them  in  their  rapid  flight, 
the  Turks  would  be  sure  to  perceive  that  the  stone  had  been 
removed,  and  this  would  at  once  enable  them  to  discover 
the  retreat  of  die  whole  party. 

original  appearance. 

And  this  he  had  now  done. 

But  his  own  safety? 

He  had  thought  of  that,  too. 

Wild  and  desperate  as  was  his  scheme— one  that  required 
far  more  than  ordinary  courage  to  accomplish — gathering  up 
the  tools,  he  re-entered  the  house,  and  rapidly  ascended  to 
his  own  room. 

Here,  from  die  window,  he  could  perceive  how  much  the 
crowd  of  enemies  had  increased  outside. 

He  was  almost  shaken  off  his  feet  by  another  •lUalmg* 
of  artillery. 

But  cvuy  second  was  precious. 

Hastily  Jack  robed  himself  in  die  ordinary  garb  of  a 
•n^frlWffagg  Turk — for  he  had  plenty  of  Oriental  garments— 
bound  a  turban  round  his  brows,  and  rubbed  his  face  all 
over  with  a  chemical  powder,  which  gready  darkened  hi? 

He  quickly  stained  his  eyebrows  a  deep  black,  with  henna. 

None  of  his  friends  could  now  have  recognised  Jack 
Haifcaway. 

But  how  were  his  enemies  to  be  deceived  and  eluded  ? 

Having  completed  this  hasty  transformation,  Jack  de- 
scended the  stairs. 

He  looked  out  into  die  courtyard. 

A  tiiird  discharge  of  artillery  had  now  broken  down  die 
door,  and  die  troops  were  rapidly  clearing  away  die  obstacles 
before  enlraii^  in  a  body. 


154  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

Loud  were  their  shouts  of  triumph,  and  Jack  recognised 
the  countenance  of  Abdullah,  lit  up  by  a  savage  satisfaction. 

But  a  glance  sufficed. 

Jack  then  retired  into  the  smaller  garden  at  the  back, 
where  he  completely  concealed  himself  under  some  thick 
shrubs. 

In  a  few  moments,  the  troops  were  all  over  the  yard,  probing 
and  seeking  in  every  corner. 

Just  as  Jack  had  calculated,  the  soldiers  were  followed  by 
a  wild  helter-skelter  of  Turks,  of  all  ages  and  conditions, 
fanatical  Moslems,  who  were  ready  to  raze  to  the  ground  the 
accursed  house  where  the  Christians  had  taken  refuge. 

The  soldiers  were  considerably  surprised  to  find  no  one. 

They  sought  in  every  room  in  vain,  to  their  intense  disap- 
pointment. 

Abdullah's  fury  was  terrible  to  witness. 

Speedily  the  whole  house  was  filled  with  a  motley  Turkish 
rabble. 

In  this  fact  consisted  Jack's  safety. 

Seeing  the  moment  when  a  number  of  the  Turks  were 
passing  his  hiding-place,  he  stepped  out  and  mingled  with 
them. 

In  the  confusion,  nobody  noticed  him. 

In  appearance,  he  was  just  like  a  score  of  other  wild 
Turkish  youths  who  were  in  the  throng,  shouting  lustily 
"  Death  to  the  Christians  ! "  in  which  cry  Jack  joined  with 
great  vigour. 

The  crisis  of  his  danger  was  now  over. 

He  had  only  to  follow  the  movements  of  the  crowd,  and 
join  the  first  group  who,  tired  of  their  search,  went  back 
through  the  gate. 

This  soon  happened,  and  amongst  those  disappointed 
Turks,  Jack  Harkaway  was  not  for  a  moment  conspicuous. 

Mingling  now  with  the  crowd  outside,  Jack  soon  found  an 
opportunity  of  slipping  down  a  side  lane,  and  reaching  the 
suburbs  of  the  town. 

He  was  free,  his  disguise  still  protecting  him. 

He  now  increased  his  speed,  making  towards  the  desert. 

For  there  dwelt  the  tribe  of  Arabs  with  whom  he  was 
friendly,  who  hated  the  new  pasha  as  much  as  the  old  one, 
and  who  would  be  sure  to  extend  their  assistance  to  the 
gallant  young  Englishman,  and  enable  him  to  rescue  his 
friends.  They  received  him  kindly. 


BIS  BOY  TINKER.  155 

Jack  told  his  story — in  which  they  were  all  powerfully 
interested — but  they  told  him  that  nothing  could  be  done 
until  the  chief  returned. 

In  the  meantime,  our  hero  was  so  overcome  by  excite- 
ment and  fatigue  that  a  deep  sleep  fell  upon  him,  despite 
his  efforts  to  keep  it  off. 


CHAPTER  LXXXV. 

ADVENTURES   IN    THE  VAULTS — NEW    FRIENDS — JACK   AGREE- 
ABLY SURPRISED. 

WE  must  now  follow  Jack's  friends  in  their  subterranean 
flight. 

They  were,  in  fact,  the  remains  of  some  ancient  and  long- 
disused  fortifications,  of  far  greater  antiquity  than  the  edifice 
which  had  been  built  over  them. 

Light  and  air  were  only  admitted  by  small  gratings  on  the 
sides  of  the  roofing,  which  was  about  level  with  the  ground 
outside. 

As  soon  as  the  party  had  got  over  the  confusion  of  their 
hurried  concealment,  Harry  Girdwood  took  the  lead. 

Their  greatest  distress  was  the  loss  of  Jack  Harkaway. 

That  he  was  not  with  them  soon  became  evident. 

And  that  being  shut  outside  would  be  certain  death  to 
him,  seemed  equally  so. 

Thyra  could  by  no  means  be  consoled. 

Her  grief  at  this  separation  from  Jack  took  the  form  of 
intense  and  violent  lamentations. 

She  declared  that  had  she  known  that  Jack  would  thus  be 
left  outside,  no  consideration  would  have  induced  her  to 
enter  the  vaults. 

In  her  frenzy  of  despair  and  her  love  for  him,  she  resolved 
to  go  back  and  perish  with  him. 

But  all  her  efforts  were  inadequate  to  raise  the  stone  which 
had  already  resisted  the  greater  strength  of  Harry  Girdwood. 

As  soon  as  the  Greek  girl  could  be  in  the  least  degree 
pacified,  the  party  proceeded  through  the  vaults,  Harry 
reminding  them  that  they  were  by  no  means  out  of  all  danger, 
but  that  further  on  some  other  outlet,  or  at  least  more  secure 
retreat  might  be  discovered. 

It  was  a  great  drawback  that  they  had  no  lamp  or  candle, 
but  Tinker  had  a  box  of  matches,  and  by  lighting  one  ot 


156  YOUNG  JACK  HARKAWAY  AND 

these  at  every  few  yards,  they  were  enabled  to  gam  some 
idea  of  the  place  they  were  in. 

In  this  way  they  penetrated  a  considerable  distance,  till, 
arriving  at  a  kind  of  wide  underground  room,  the  party 
rested  awhile. 

Harry  Girdwood  now  proposed  to  go  and  explore  the 
further  portion  of  this  subterranean  region. 

Leaving,  therefore,  the  others  resting,  he  took  the  box  of 
matches,  and  entered  the  further  passage. 

He  soon  found  a  low  rugged  opening,  from  which  another 
passage  branched  off. 

Going  through  this,  Harry  was  almost  sent  falling  on  his 
face  through  making  a  false  step,  for  he  did  not  see  that  this 
passage  lay  more  than  a  foot  lower  than  the  other. 

Then  he  struck  one  of  his  matches,  and  by  its  light  per- 
ceived that  this  passage  was  lower,  narrower,  and  more 
rugged  and  winding  than  the  rest  of  the  vaults,  and  seemed 
to  have  been  hewn  out  of  the  earth,  rather  than  built  in  it. 

"  Perhaps  this  leads  to  a  cave,"  he  thought,  "  inhabited 
by  robbers  or  wild  beasts.  In  that  case  I  shall  come  off 
badly.  I  ought  to  have  brought  Bogey  with  me  ;  he's  ugly 
enough  to  frighten  any  body.  Never  mind,  here  goes." 

And  grasping  his  cutlass  in  one  hand,  and  in  the  other  a 
piece  of  lighted  paper,  which  he  had  twisted  into  the  form 
of  a  torch,  Harry  Girdwood  marched  manfully  on. 

Grazing  his  head  against  a  jutting  piece  of  rock  reminded 
him  that  the  passage  was  growing  very  small,  and  it  behoved 
him  to  stop. 

Suddenly  Harry  stopped. 

He  heard  voices. 

He  saw  the  gleam  of  a  light  at  the  end  of  the  passage. 

He  was  apparently  approaching  some  robbers'  lair.  Here 
-was  a  fresh  peril. 

But  there  was  still  time  to  draw  back  from  it. 

No ;  urged  on  by  curiosity,  Harry  determined  to  see  and 
know  the  worst. 

In  a  few  moments  that  curiosity  was  gratified. 

He  came  to  a  point  where  the  narrow,  winding  passage 
terminated,  leading  out  into  a  lofty,  rugged  vault,  fitted  up 
in  rude  imitation  of  a  room. 

Here,  seated  upon  the  floor  in  a  group  were  about  a 
dozen  men,  all  armed,  and  by  their  dress  and  appearance 
evidently  Bedouin  Arabs. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  157 

Harry  was  at  once  reassured. 

He  knew  that  the  Arabs  were  enemies  to  the  Turks. 

The  sharp  eyes  and  quick  ears  of  one  of  these  sons  of  the 
desert  soon  "spotted71  the  stranger,  and  before  he  could 
resist  or  retreat,  gave  the  alarm. 

Two  of  them  seized  and  secured  him. 

Harry  now  feared  that  his  curiosity  would  cost  him  dear. 

Questioned  by  their  chief,  Harry,  by  dint  of  words  and 
signs,  explained  what  had  occurred. 

The  Bedouins  became  at  once  friendly. 

They  were  ever  ready  to  help  even  the  unbelieving 
Christians  against  the  still  more  hated  Turks. 

Two  of  their  number  were  therefore  told  off  to  accompany 
Harry  back. 

By  the  aid  of  a  torch,  the  three  soon  found  their  way  to 
the  rest  of  the  party,  who  were  astonished  and  alarmed  at 
the  ferocious  appearance  of  their  intending  deliverers. 

Indeed,  the  waiter  and  diver  drew  their  weapons  and 
prepared  to  offer  resistance,  but  Harry  stepped  forward  and 
explained  that  the  Arabs  were  friends. 

Thyra,  who  could  speak  perfectly  both  Turkish  and 
Arabic,  acted  as  interpreter,  and  gave  a  full  account  of  aU 
that  had  occurred,  which  seemed  to  impress  *^^*  Bedouins 
' 


The  beauty  of  the  speaker  produced  a  powerful  effect 
upon  the  young  and  gallant  chief  to  whom  Thyra  particularly 
addressed  herself. 

"Oh,  brave  sheikh,*  she  exclaimed,  "  hasten  to  assist  the 
young  Englishman  whom  I  love,  and  who  has  fallen  into 
then-  hands  while  so  generously  saving  his  friends.7' 

"Lady,  more  beautiful  than  the  peri  of  the  gate  of 
Heaven,"  replied  the  chief,  Kara-al-Zariel,  "I  and  the 
warriors  of  my  tribe  wffl  protect  thee  and  thy  friends." 

Thyra  knelt  and  kissed  the  hem  of  the  Arab  chiefs 
garment  in  humble  gratitude 

He  raised  her  from  the  ground. 

As  he  did  so,  die  deepest  admiration  shone  from  bis  dark 
and  luminous  eyes. 

But  Thyra  f  eft  love  only  for  young  Jack. 

"  We  were  even  now  debating  bow  to  attack  the  Turks,'" 
said  the  Arab.  '  Ibrahim  is  our  enemy  ;  but  from  thy  words, 
it  would  appear  that  they  are  strong  and  many,  and  armed 
with  the  weapons  of  western  science.  In  the  desert,  we  fear 


1 58  YOUNG  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

neither  men,  nor  kings,  nor  armies,  but  in  the  cities  our 
strength  availeth  not," 

"  But  you  will  at  least  fly  to  the  assistance  of  brave  Jack," 
implored  Thyra. 

"  It  is  too  late  ;  already  the  castle  is  in  the  hands  of  the 
pasha's  men,  and  your  friend  doubtless  is  their  captive  1  " 

"  But  you  will  rescue  him  ?  "  entreated  Thyra ;  "  promise 
us  that." 

"  I  promise  to  make  the  attempt,  fair  maiden,"  answered 
Kara-al  Zariel ;  "  but  it  must  be  by  night  and  by  stealth." 

"  That  hope  gives  me  comfort,"  exclaimed  Thyra. 

"Thou  seemest  greatly  to  love  this  Prankish  youth,"  ob- 
served the  chief,  bending  his  dark  eyes  upon  her ;  "  if  so, 
he  is  much  to  be  envied." 

"  Gallant  emir,"  said  Harry,  addressing  Al  Zariel  at  this 
juncture,  "  is  this  cave  safe  from  the  entrance  of  our  com- 
mon enemy  ? " 

"  Safe  as  the  top  of  Caucasus,  as  far  as  we  are  are  con- 
cerned," the  chief  answered.  "The  Turks  know  not  of 
these  vaults,  and  if  they  did,  would  not  venture  here  to  be  at 
our  mercy.  It  was  through  these  vaults  that  we  intended  to 
enter  and  take  the  town  by  surprise." 

"  But  where  does  the  other  end  lead  to  ? "  asked  Harry. 

"  Into  our  native  desert,  where  its  opening  is  concealed 
by  a  dense  shrubbery,"  replied  Al  Zariel.  "  We  have  often 
found  these  caves  very  useful  in  our  excursions  against  the 
Turks.  But  you  and  your  friends  shall  accompany  us  to  our 
tents,  where  the  Turks  will  be  bold  indeed  to  seek  you." 

Harry  thanked  him  for  this  generous  offer. 

This  arrangement  having  been  made,  the  party  quitted 
the  caves  by  means  of  a  narrow  path  leading  between  two 
walls  of  high  rock. 

Two  of  the  chief's  men,  disguised  as  Turks,  were  left  be- 
hind to  enter  the  town  and  keep  an  eye  upon  the  condition 
of  affairs  there. 

The  chief  of  course  took  command  of  the  party. 

He  seemed  to  make  Thyra  the  especial  object  of  his  care. 

"  It  was  evidently  a  case  of  "  love  at  first  sight "  towards 
her  who  had  been,  with  equal  suddenness,  smitten  with  Jack 
Harkaway. 

And  both  attachments  were  equally  hopeless. 

In  some  parts  the  path  was  so  narrow  that  it  was  with 
difficulty  they  could  squeeze  through  it. 


SIS  BOY  TINKER.  159 

This  rugged  path  proved  particularly  difficult  to  Mr.  Mole, 
whose  head  was,  as  usual,  not  entirely  free  from  the  fumes 
of  alcohol,  and  whose  ungovernable  legs  still  insisted  upon 
going  all  ways  but  the  right  one. 

But  his  Arab  friends  occasionally  assisted  his  progress  by 
prodding  him  in  the  back  with  their  long  spears,  a  species  of 
incitement  he  could  well  have  dispensed  with,  but  which  they 
insisted  upon  affording. 

The  poor  orphan,  too,  was,  as  usual,  bowed  down  with 
weight  of  woe. 

"  Oh,  what  a  cold  I  am  having,"  he  exclaimed,  pathetically, 
feeling  for  his  pocket  handkerchief.  "It's  tumbling  into 
that  fountain  that  did  it  Oh,  dear,  what  shall  I  do  ?  It 
will  be  my  death,  I  know  it  wilL" 

Such  was  the  burden  of  his  lament,  which  greatly  amused 
the  others,  especially  Bogey  and  Tinker. 

They  were  now  on  the  edge  of  the  desert  some  distance 
outside  the  walls  of  the  town. 

The  Arab  tents  could  be  faintly  descried  in  the  distance. 

They  had  still  some  distance  to  walk  in  order  to  reach 
them. 

The  road,  however,  was  now  plain  and  easy,  consisting  of 
the  usual  flat  desert  sand. 

On  nearing  this  encampment,  they  were  challenged  by  a 
Bedouin  sentinel,  but  the  chief,  stepping  forward  and  explain- 
ing, the  whole  group  were  of  course  readily  admitted. 

The  black  and  white  camel-hair  tents  dotted  the  plain  to 
a  considerable  distance,  and  numerous  horses  and  camels 
were  picketed  round. 

One  of  the  principal  Arabs  having  conferred  with  Kara- 
al-Zariel,  he  went  back  to  his  English  guests,  saying — 

"  Christian  friends,  I  will  now  show  you  what  will  cheer 
your  hearts  even  more  than  the  flesh  of  lambs,  or  odour  of 
pure  bread.  Behold!" 

And  throwing  back  the  curtains  of  the  tent,  he  exposed 
Jack  Harkaway,  attired  as  a  Turk,  peacefully  sleeping  upon 
a  rude  couch. 

The  astonishment  and  relief  of  mind  experienced  by  our 
friends  at  this  discovery  cannot  be  described. 

Their  joy  at  finding  Jack  safe  was  equal  to  their  wonder 
Jkm  he  had  escaped. 

But  what  words  wfll  denote  the  ecstasy  of  Thyra  ? 

With  a  cry  cf  delight,  she  ran  towards  him,  and  kneeling 


160  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

beside  his  couch,  poured  forth  thanksgivings  to  Heaven  for 
his  deliverance. 

This  caused  some  jealousy  to  the  noble  chief,  who  now 
began  to  perceive  how  passionately  the  "  Pearl  of  the  Isles," 
as  he  called  the  beautiful  Greek,  was  enamoured  of  the 
youthful  Briton. 

"  Stay,"  he  said,  as  Thyra  passionately  impressed  her  lips 
on  the  brow  of  the  sleeping  youth.  "  Stay,  or  you  will  wake 
him.  The  Christian  sleeps  the  slumber  of  the  weary  •  dis- 
turb him  not,  and  his  waking  will  be  all  the  more  joyous." 

"  Thou  sayest  right,"  answered  Thyra.  "  If  he  is  happy, 
sleeping  or  waking,  'tis  not  for  me  to  intrude  upon  his  happi- 
ness. But  I  will  sit  here  and  watch  his  slumbers,  that  I  may 
be  the  first  to  greet  him  when  he  wakes." 

"  You  mustn't  do  any  thing  of  the  kind,  miss  !  "  interposed 
the  waiter.  "  Girls  can't  live  upon  love,  though  you  seem 
inclined  to  try  at  it,  and  as  we've  got  a  nice  supper  awaiting 
us  at  that  tent,  Mr-  Girdwood  insists  upon  your  coming  to 
join  us." 

With  some  difficulty  Thyra  was  induced  to  assent,  and 
again  left  the  object  of  her  idolatry  sleeping  in  blissful  un- 
consciousness of  her  presence. 

A  short  time,  however,  only  elapsed  before,  either  awakened 
by  some  outward  sound  or  disturbed  by  some  dream,  young 
Jack  started  up,  much  confused  and  puzzled  to  find  himself 
in  this  strange  place. 

Then  he  remembered  the  events  of  the  day, 

"  Halloa  !  what's  that  ?  " 

Could  he  believe  his  eyes,  or  was  it  possible  that,  beyond 
the  group  of  Bedouins  sitting  feasting  around  the  camp  fire, 
was  another  group,  among  which  the  figures  of  Harry  Gird- 
wood,  of  Mole,  and  of  Thyra  were  conspicuous  ? 

It  must  be  a  dream. 

Jack  leapt  to  his  feet,  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  group,  and  now 
recognised  also  Mr.  Figgins,  the  Will-o'-the-Wisp  forms  of 
Bogey  and  Tinker  flitting  about  and  waiting  on  the  others 

Now  convinced,  Jack  rushed  out  of  his  tent  into  the  larger 
one. 

A  perfect  storm  of  welcome  greeted  him,  and  mutual  sur- 
prise and  delight  were  exhibited  by  all, 

Thyra  was  beside  herself  with  joy, 

**  Oh,  dear  Jack/'  said  she ;  "  I  thought  never  to  see  you 
more." 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  161 

••  How  did  you  get  away  from  the  Turks  ?  n  asked  Harry 
Gird  wood  and  two  or  three  of  the  others  in  chorus. 

Jack  told  his  story,  and  in  turn  listened  to  his  companions' 
adventures,  and  there  were  mutual  congratulations  upon 
their  escape. 

Never  in  all  Jack's  wanderings  was  there  a  happier 
occasion  than  this  reunion. 


CHAPTER  LXXXVL 

THE  GREEK  GIRL'S   FOREBODING — A  BATTLE  WITH  THE  TURKS. 

THYRA  slept  little  that  night. 

This  could  not  be  because  she  was  unwearied  in  frame, 
for  the  toils,  anxieties,  and  dangers  of  the  day  had  been 
sufficient  to  exhaust  f*f  fiTJUr  ntfTMft^1  than  hers. 

It  was  not  that  she  had  not  much  cause  now  for  anxiety 
of  mind. 

Jack  was  safe — that  to  her,  was  the  first  consideration, 
and  all  his  friends,  including  herself,  had  been  rescued  by 
his  cleverness  from  die  more  imminent  perils  that  beset 
them. 

But  her  soul  was  in  a  state  of  great  agitation ;  dark, 
melancholy  thoughts,  which  would  not  be  chased  away, 
continually  oppressed  it. 

This  interfered  with  the  blissful  visions,  the  roseate 
castles  in  the  air  which  she  was  so  prone  to  build,  and  of 
which  Jack  Harkaway  ever  formed  the  central  figure. 

If  she  could  win  his  love,  and  accompany  him  to  England 
— a  grand  and  mysterious  region  which  she  had  all  her  life 
longed  to  see — Thyra  thought  the  climax  of  happiness  would 
be  readied. 

But  still  she  felt  a  terrible  presentiment  that,  not  only 
would  this  never  be  accomplished,  but  that  some  dread  and 
imminent  fate  was  hanging  over  her. 

~  To-morrow,"  she  murmured,  *  the  hand  of  destiny  will 
lie  heavily  upon  me ;  there  is  a  voice  within  that  tells  me 
so." 

And  this  melancholy  condition  continued  l1iiiM|JhliMl  the 
hours  of  darkness. 

Sl>e  looked  out  of  her  tent. 
21 


!6r?  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

All  around  her  slept. 

Even  the  sentinel  had  fallen  asleep  beside  the  camp  fire. 

The  air  was  laden  with  the  chill  breath  of  night,  but  the 
stars  were  fading  and  the  first  gleams  of  dawn  were  breaking 
through  the  eastern  mists.  At  such  a  time  the  appearance 
of  the  vast  desert  was  especially  gloomy  and  depressing. 

Thyra  turned  her  gaze  in  the  direction  of  the  town. 

What  cloud  was  that  coming  thence,  and  advancing  along 
the  plain  towards  the  camp  ? 

The  Greek  girl  strained  her  eyes  to  penetrate  the  mist ; 
in  this  she  was  assisted  by  the  growing  light  of  the  morn. 

Presently  the  cloud  shaped  itself  into  recognisable  dis- 
tinctness. 

It  was  a  mass  of  armed  men. 

The  Turks  were  marching  on  their  track ! 

Thyra's  terror  for  a  moment  kept  her  spellbound. 

This  onset  boded  destruction  to  herself  and  all  her  friends  ; 
above  all,  to  him  she  loved  best. 

Involuntarily  she  uttered  a  cry  of  alarm,  which  at  once 
aroused  the  whole  of  the  camp. 

The  Arabs  sprang  to  their  feet,  and  seized  their  arms. 

In  an  instant  all  was  commotion. 

Kara-al-Zariel  heard  that  beloved  voice,  and  in  an  instant 
was  at  Thyra's  side. 

"  What  has  alarmed  the  Pearl  of  the  Isles  ?  "  he  asked,  in 
the  poetic  phraseology  of  his  race. 

Thyra  stood  with  dishevelled  hair,  and  dilated  eyes  fixed 
upon  the  approaching  army,  at  which  she  pointed  with 
trembling  fingers. 

"  Look  !  look !  "  she  exclaimed,  "  they  are  coming — the 
Turks  are  upon  us !  " 

Kara-al-Zariel  folowed  her  gaze. 

He  saw  the  cloud ;  he  knew  the  danger. 

"  To  horse !  "  he  thundered.  "  To  arms  !  every  son  of  the 
tlesert,  and  every  Christian  guest !  " 

Instantly  the  horses  were  untethered,  and  the  riders 
mounted ;  armed  men  assembled  on  foot,  and  every  warrior 
appeared  in  readiness. 

Jack  Harkaway  and  his  friend  Harry,  by  this  time  familiar 
as  old  soldiers  with  these  sudden  calls  to  arms,  soon 
answered  the  summons;  and  the  rest  of  their  party,  on 
hearing  the  danger,  were  not  backward  in  preparing  for  it. 

There  were  in  the  encampment  a  large  number  of  fleet 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  163 

Arab  steeds,  more  than  were  actually  required  by  the  tribe, 
but  the  chief,  like  many  of  his  race,  dealt  largely  in  horse- 
flesh. 

This  was  particularly  fortunate  on  the  present  occasion, 
for  their  Christian  allies  could  also  be  mounted,  and  if  over- 
whelmingly outnumbered  by  the  enemy,  could  save  them- 
selves by  flight. 

All  the  more  experienced  warriors  were  now  sent  to  the 
front,  to  face  the  first  shock  of  the  coming  attack. 

Kara-al-Zariel  led  a  beautiful  steed  to  Thyra. 

"Mount,  sweet  maiden,"  he  said;  "This  steed  is  one  of 
fleetest.  Go,  ride  on  towards  the  sea,  for  our  enemies  are 
coming  fast  upon  us,  and  this  is  no  place  for  thee." 

Thyra  mounted,  but  steadfastly  refused  to  flight. 

"  Thinkestthou,  O  chief,  that  1  will  fly  from  this  danger?" 
she  said  scornfully.  "  Never !  I  will  escape  with  my  best 
friends,  or  perish  with  them." 

In  vain  the  emir  persuaded  her  to  seek  safety  at  once, 

"  To  perish  or  to  fall  again  into  the  hands  of  the  licentious 
Turks,"  he  said  ;  "remember,  rash  girl,  these  two  terrible 
fates  menace  thee." 

"If  I  am  killed,"  responded  Thyra,* it  is  the  wifl  of 
Heaven :  but  ere  I  become  a  captive  to  the  Turks,  the  dagger 
shall  end  my  life." 

Her  resolution  being  evidently  fixed,  the  Arab  chief  ceased 
to  persuade,  but  resolved,  throughout  the  coming  fight,  to  do 
all  he  could  to  shield  her  from  danger. 

On  came  die  enemy's  forces. 

The  light  was  now  sufficient  for  it  to  be  perceived  that 
they  consisted  of  a  large  and  well-armed  body  of  Turkish 
cavalry. 

They  were  led,  as  before,  by  the  captain  of  the  guard,  and 
the  truculent  vizier  Abdullah. 

If  was  through  the  latter's  acuteness  that  the  vaults  be- 
neath the  casde  had  been  discovered,  and  conjecturing  that 
the  fugitives  had  escaped  thus,  he  had  traced  them  into  the 
desert. 

He,  therefore,  organized  an  expedition  to  set  out  and 
surprise  them  in  the  camp. 

Abdullah's  plans  were  deeply  laid. 

He  wished  to  capture  the  Greek  girl,  that  he  might  curry 
favour  with  the  Pasha  Ibrahim  by  presenting  her  to  him. 

He  was  resolved  to  secure  and  punish  Harkaway  and  the 


1 64  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WAY  A  ND 

other  Christians,  to  turn  away  every  public  suspicion  from 
himself  and  Ibrahim,  as  to  the  late  pasha's  assassination. 

After  that,  it  is  exceedingly  probable  that  the  unscrupulous 
interpreter  meant  in  some  way  to  destroy  Ibrahim,  and  set 
up  as  pasha  himself. 

These  subtle  treacheries  are  common  under  the  corrup- 
tions of  Oriental  rule. 

The  vizier  intended  to  take  the  Arabs  by  surprise,  and  he 
would  have  succeeded  in  this,  had  it  not  been  for  Thyra. 

Instead,  therefore,  of  finding  a  sleeping  encampment,  he 
found  the  whole  tribe  up  in  arms,  and  ready  to  receive  him. 

Other  tactics  were  therefore  necessary,  but  Abdullah  be- 
lieved that  his  own  superiority  in  numbers  would  ensure 
victory. 

As  the  Turkish  regiment  approached,  they  spread  them- 
selves out,  their  object  being  to  surround  the  force  opposed 
to  them. 

On  came  the  Turks. 

Their  sabres  flashing  and  clashing. 

The  steeds  neighing. 

The  sands  of  the  desert  rising  up  in  clouds  beneath  their 
thundering  tread. 

Arrived  within  a  short  distance,  the  two  armies  halted  and 
surveyed  each  other. 

Then  a  trumpet  sounded  to  parley,  and  a  messenger  rode 
forward  to  communicate  with  the  Arab  chief. 

"  To  the  Emir  Kara-al  Zariel,"  said  the  soldier,  "  thus  saith 
the  greet  Lord  Ibrahim,  pasha  of  Alla-hissar.  Whereas, 
though  thou  hast  been  often  a  rebel  against  his  highness's 
lawful  authority,  yet  will  he  pardon  thee  all  past  misdeeds 
on  condition  that  thou  shalt  give  up  the  Prankish  men  and 
the  Greek  woman,  who  are  accused  of  the  secret  murder  of 
his  late  highness,  Moley  Pasha.  Refuse  this,  and  no  mercy 
will  be  shown  to  thee  or  to  thy  tribe. 

"  Tell  thy  ruler  or  his  officers,"  thus  replied  Kara-al  Zariel, 
"  that  I  refuse  his  proffered  pardon  ;  that  Ibrahim  is  an 
assassin  and  usurper  I  despise  and  defy ;  that  I  will  never 
deliver  up  to  his  hands  those  who  have  sought  my  hospitality, 
and  that  I  and  my  tribe,  and  my  guests,  will  resist  him  and 
his,  to  the  death." 

This  rebuff  was  sufficiently  conclusive. 

There  was  nothing  now  but  to  commence  the  fight. 

Shots  came  forth  from  the  midst  of  the  mass  of  Turkish 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  165 

horsemen,  and  were  promptly  answered  from  the  muskets  of 
:he  Arabs. 

The  battle  cry  of  the  Bedouins  rang  out  clear  in  the 
morning  air. 

The  first  rays  of  the  sun  now  lit  up  the  plain,  piercing  the 
clouds  of  mist  and  desert-dust,  and  gleaming  upon  the  rapidly- 
moving  blades  and  barrels. 

Now  shone  out  the  white  naiks  of  the  Arabs  and  the  red 
caps  of  the  Turks. 

The  Ottoman  cavalry  pressed  with  terrible  force  upon  the 
Bedouins,  whose  old-fashioned  long  guns  were  inadequate 
to  compete  with  the  modern  European  rifles  of  their  foe. 

But  on  each  side,  the  bullets  tore  through  the  ranks  and 
laid  low  many  a  gallant  warrior. 

The  fray  soon  became  a  fierce  and  close  one. 

A  fight^  hand  to  hand,  muzzle  to  muzzle,  and  sword  to 
sword. 

One  slight  advantage  was  on  the  side  of  the  Arabs. 

They  and  their  horses  were  quite  fresh,  while  the  Turks 
and  their  chargers  were  wearied  with  a  long  and  HifficMt 
march. 

Our  friends  did  not  forget  they  were  Englishmen,  and 
upheld  the  honour  of  their  country  in  the  personal  bravery 
they  showed  upon  this  occasion. 

Jack  Harkaway  and  Harry  Girdwood  hewed  their  way 
right  and  left  among  the  Turkish  horsemen. 

They  were  like  mowers  among  the  corn,  their  sickles 
sharp,  and  their  harvest  heavy. 

Soon  shone  the  morning  sun  brightly  upon  this  scene  of 
strife. 

The  Turks,  from  their  numbers,  could  relieve  their  com- 
rades when  they  became  tired. 

The  Arabs  had  BO  such  advantage. 

They  began  to  thin  terribly. 

But  still  they  fought  on  with  unabated  vigour,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  preventing  the  enemy  surrounding  their  encamp- 
ment, and  enclosing  them  in. 

Kara-al-Zariel  was  ever  in  the  thickest  and  most  perilous 
part  of  the  contest,  encouraging  his  men  with  his  presence. 

He  performed  prodigies  of  valour,  and  his  long  hildess 
Arab  sabre  was  stained  deeply  with  the  blood  of  his  foes. 

The  diver  and  the  waiter  both  showed  themselves  skilful 
and  valorous  in  fighting,  and  if  Mole  and  Figgins  failed  to 


166  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

distinguish  themselves  so  much,  and  preferred  the  more 
modest  and  retiring  rearguard  of  the  army,  we  must  consider 
the  weak  nerves  of  one  and  the  wooden  legs  of  the  other. 

Bogey  and  Tinker  were  in  their  element,  and  their  African 
blood  spurred  them  on  to  deeds  of  bravery  sometimes  even 
approaching  barbarity. 

Thyra,  stationed  on  horseback  in  the  rear,  had  in  her  a 
spirit  of  heroism,  which  of  her  own  will,  would  have  led  her 
to  the  very  front  of  the  battle. 

But  the  entreaties  of  the  chief  and  of  Jack  induced  her  to 
restrain  her  valour,  and  remain  in  a  position  of  comparative 
safety  from  which  she  could  see  all  that  went  on,  and  dis- 
charge a  pistol  when  she  saw  a  chance  of  bringing  down  a  foe. 

But  by  degrees  the  Arabs  ranks  were  broken. 

Their  numbers  where  fearfully  diminished,  and  no  efforts 
of  theirs  seemed  to  make  any  perceptible  diminution  of  that 
of  the  enemy. 

So  the  chief  resolved  upon  a  retreat. 

But  ere  this  could  be  effected,  the  Turks  succeeded  in 
placing  a  large  contingent  in  a  position  to  intercept  them. 

"  We  must  cut  through  them,  or  we  are  lost,"  exclaimed 
the  chief. 

The  war-cry  of  the  Arabs  was  again  raised. 

They  dashed  at  a  portion  of  the  living  ring  that  surrounded 
them. 

They  cut  their  way  through  the  circling  mass  of  steel. 


CHAPTER  LXXXVII. 

STILL    THE     BATTLE     RAGES. 

AT  that  moment  Kara-al-Zariel's  horse  received  a  mortal 
wound,  and  sank  beneath  the  chief. 

He  fell  heavily,  and  narrowly  escaped  being  trampled  to 
death  by  his  own  advancing  men. 

But  procuring  another  steed,  he  again  led  the  van. 

Jack  Harkaway  had  already  had  two  horses  killed  undei 
him. 

He  was  disfigured  by  blood  and  smoke,  and  dizzy  with 
weariness  and  excitement,  but  he  still  fought  like  a  lion,  for 
it  was  for  life. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  167 

The  task  of  breaking  through  the  Turkish  ranks  was  a 
terrible  one. 

Many  Arabs  fell  dead  in  the  desperate  attempt. 

As  fast  as  the  gaps  were  made  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy, 
they  were  filled  up  by  fresh  men. 

The  horses  trampled  upon  the  weary  limbs  of  the  wounded. 

Into  this  wild  metif  Jack  plunged,  closely  followed  by  his 
friend  Harry. 

Our  hero 'struck  down  a  gigantic  Turk,  fired  a  revolver 
into  the  face  of  another,  and  gave  a  cut  right  and  left  with 
his  sword. 

Taking  advantage  of  the  passage  thus  made,  the  other 
Englishmen  rapidly  followed  their  leader. 

Thyra  was  led  by  the  waiter  and  the  diver,  while  Mole 
and  Figgins  mutually  assisted  each  other. 

It  was  amid  shots  falling  like  hail  in  every  direction,  and 
menaced  by  killing  blows  from  heavy  sabres  that  the  retreat 
was  made. 

Thyra  performed  another  act  of  heroism  at  this  juncture. 

A  Turkish  sergeant,  on  foot,  fired  straight  at  her  as  she 
passed 

By  the  width  of  scarce  an  inch,  the  bullet  missed  piercing 
her  brain,  but  she  answered  it  by  a  shot  which  sought  and 
found  the  heart  of  the  Turk,  and  he  fell  dead  instantaneously. 

In  this  way  all  the  Englishmen  got  through  the  ranks  of 
the  foe  and  joined  the  chief. 

The  rest  of  the  Arabs  followed,  but  they  had  a  hard  task 
to  do  so,  for  the  enemy  now  overwhelmingly  outnumbered 
their  reduced  force. 

But  our  friends  were  were  not  to  escape  even  thus  easily. 

The  Turks  made  fresh  and  vigorous  efforts,  not  only  to 
prevent  their  retreat,  but  to  effect  their  capture. 

Seeing  the  peril  they  were  in,  Jack  called  to  Thyra  and 
said — 

"  My  good  girl,  you  have  acted  with  heroic  bravery,  but 
our  danger  is  now  greater  than  ever,  and  you  must  quit  this 
scene." 

"  Never,  dear  Jack,  whilst  you  are  imperilled,"  she  firmly 
replied. 

"  But  you  can  aid  me  more  that  way  than  by  staying,"  he 
said.  ""Listen,  yonder  is  the  sea,  not  more  than  two  miles 
off.  There  is  an  English  ship  in  the  bay;  its  gallant  sailors 
will  not  fail  to  assist  their  countrymen  in  distress.  Go  to 


J  68  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

them  at  once,  your  steed  is  swiftest  of  all.  Ride,  ride  for 
your  life,  dear  girl. " 

Thyra  needed  no  further  urging. 

"  I  will  bring  assistance  to  you,"  she  cried,  "  or  perish  in 
the  attempt." 

She  turned  her  steed,  and  was  off  in  a  minute  at  lightning 
speed. 

On  came  the  Turks,  now  headed  by  Abdullah,  for  his 
comrade,  the  captain  of  the  guard,  had  been  desperately 
wounded. 

"  We  must  capture  them  !  "  he  cried  to  his  men.  "  For- 
ward, men  ;  death  or  victory. " 

Jack  and  his  men  saw  that  resistance  was  useless  against 
so  overwhelming  a  force. 

Flight  was  the  only  chance  remaining  to  them. 

Yet  they  could  not  give  in  without  some  attempt  to  punish 
their  enemy. 

Jack  levelled  his  pistol  at  the  vizier's  head,  but  by  a  dex- 
terous movement  he  avoided  the  shot. 

"  Yield,  Christian  dogs  !  "  he  thundered.  "  Yield  to  might 
and  right,  for  your  capture  or  death  is  inevitable." 

"You  do  not  know  us  Boys  of  England,"  cried  Jack. 
"  We  may  be  taken  dead,  but  while  a  breath  of  life  remains, 
we  will  never  surrender  to  black-hearted  Turks." 

The  vizier  answered  by  ordering  his  men  to  surround  the 
Christians,  which  they  did  their  best  to  accomplish. 

But  by  an  agile  movement,  Jack  and  his  friends  suddenly 
turned  and  galloped  off. 

It  was  not  in  the  direction  of  the  sea,  for  retreat  was  at 
present  cut  off  that  way,  but  across  the  desert  that  they  fled. 

"  Forward  !  "  cried  Abdullah.     "  They  must  not  escape  us." 

For  a  considerable  time  this  chase  continued,  till  the 
English,  by  "  doubling  "  again,  changed  the  direction  of  their 
flight,  and  made  towards  the  sea. 

Hope  arose  within  their  hearts,  for  they  saw  a  considerable 
number  of  well-armed  English  sailors,  led  by  Thyra,  coming 
towards  them. 

A  few  minutes'  galloping  joined  them  with  these  welcome 
allies,  and  this  reinforcement  enabled  Jack  again  to  defy  the 
Turks. 

The  latter  drew  rein,  and  stood  for  awhile  in  hesitation. 

This  unexpected  turn  of  affairs  evidently  disconcerted 
them. 


HIS  BOY  TIXKRR. 

•d  his  party  were  upon  them,  backed  b 
Tire  unpetaasity  of  their  charge 


They  bore  down  all  the  Turks  before 
The  Turkish  troopers  recoiled  as  from  the  flight  of  a  rocket. 
Jack  rode  on  Eke  a  hero  of  old. 

His  hair  streamed  in  the  wind  as  he  darted  through  the 
r  on  hb  noble  Arab  steed. 
His  eyes  flashed  fire,  and  struck  awe  into  each  fee  that 


L_       -.-T*«— .       fjm.in.-ii      !••••  •    •!!*       . ,    .    .. 1 I      •  *  *  * 

ne  soon  louna  nmssen  snrrounaeu  DT  nss  enemies. 
Abdullah,  who  was  at  their  head,  cast  himself  upon  Jack. 
Their  horses  mere  driven  on  their  haunches  bv  the  force  of 
the  shock. 

Half  a  dozen  sabres  at  once  circled  round  Jack's  head. 

%l«^Sv.TIABk         -    i  _    _  «  _-.  «  -„      _"M»     •tr.  _^     __J    _j«.rjj^  -—.„•_!  J 

ADQuBmln  UnOC  a.  lUUgC,  21  HIID  «iui  HIS  SVOfO,  WMCSl  wuH 

hare  prored  the  death  of  Jack  had  not  Harry  Girdvood  at 
that  instant  cam^t  the  thrust  upon  his  arm. 

PoorHarrj!  His  devotion  to  his  friend  had  cost  him  dear. 
He  reded,  and  would  have  fallen  from  his  saddle,  probably 
'  to  death,  had  not  Bogey,  at  the  risk  of  his  own  life, 
hhn  and  led  his  horse  apart  from  the  thick  of  the 


his  friend,  Jack  struck  with  all  his  force 

The  interpreter  received  tine  blow  U|HM  his  sword,  which, 
ring* 
dash, 


The  interpreter  received  the  blow  upon 
proving  the  stronger  of  the  two.  Jack's  i 
the  «*fa^i»  and  be  was  left  ™W^*I**|B>^*% 


Abdullah  smiled  a  cruel  amJe  as  he  again  raised  his  sabre. 

But  that  mmfe  wax  his  last. 

^  A  lance-head  gleamed  past  Jack,  and  transfixed  Abdullah 
through  the  chest,  so  that  he  was  borne  down  among  the 
trampling  hoofs  of  the  horses. 

-  Yah.  yah;  dat's  one  to  me,  Massa  Jack,"  exclaimed 
Tinker,  for  he  it  was  who  had  thus  saved  Jack's  fife. 

Jack  caught  up  Abdullah's  sword,  and,  by  a  desperate 
charge,  cut  through  the  opposing  Turks,  now  "demoralised  " 
by  the  loss  of  their  leader,  and  regained  hb  Bedouin  ami 
English  friends. 

By  this  time  the  heat  was  very  great 

The  sky  was  Eke  a  dome  of  steeL 


170  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

The  sands  of  the  desert  burnt  under  the  fierce  sun. 

The  dust  flew  in  clouds,  save  where  the  blood  of  the 
wounded  and  dying  had  soaked  into  the  arid  soil. 

Taking  advantage  of  the  confusion  that  now  reigned  in  the 
Turkish  force,  the  English  and  Arabs  made  a  last  desperate 
effort  to  escape  their  foes. 

With  a  yell  of  defiance,  the  fierce  Bedouins,  led  by  Kara- 
al-Zariel,  dashed  through  the  ranks  of  the  enemy,  dealing 
destruction  right  and  left. 

Taking  advantage  of  the  disconcerted  state  of  the  foe,  Jack 
and  his  friends  were  enabled  again  to  join  their  Arab  allies, 
and  the  retreat  of  the  whole  party  towards  the  shore  began 
in  good  earnest. 

They  would  soon  have  distanced  their  now  exhausted  foes, 
but  ere  the  English  vessel  could  be  reached,  another  large 
body  of  Turks  came  up  to  the  attack. 

This  force  was  led  by  no  less  a  personage  than  the  Pasha 
Ibrahim  himself,  whose  fierce  grey  eyes  glared  beneath  his 
shaggy  brows  at  those  who  had  slain  his  vizier. 

Beside  him  rode  the  officer  in  command  of  his  squadron, 
and  another  young  man,  in  whom,  although  dressed  in  red 
fez  and  Turkish  uniform,  Jack  recognised  Herbert  Murray. 

He  was  attended  by  his  servant  Chivey,  also  dressed  as  a 
Turk. 

They  were  all  splendidly  mounted  ;  their  horses  fresh,  and 
their  troops  well-disciplined. 

As  the  two  parties  approached,  the  pasha's  eyes  were  fixed 
upon  Thyra. 

"  It  is  the  Pearl  of  the  Isles,"  he  exclaimed,  "  who  was 
stolen  by  these  infidels  from  the  harem.  She  shall  yet  be 
mine.  One  thousand  piastres  to  the  man  who  will  capture 
her." 

A  dozen  of  his  men  instantly  started  in  pursuit  of  Thyra, 
who  was  a  little  in  advance  of  her  companions. 

Her  beautiful  Arab  steed  seemed  to  have  taken  a  sudden 
fright,  for  it  started  off  at  lightning  speed,  independent  of 
Thyra's  attempts  to  turn  him,  for  she  wished  to  die  or  escape 
by  the  side  of  her  companions. 

Separated  from  them,  and  pursued  by  a  dozen  well-armed 
men,  her  position  was  indeed  perilous. 

The  speed  of  her  horse  seemed  her  only  chance. 

But  the  noble  creature  had  been  very  hard  worked  that 
day,  and  after  the  first  "  spurt,"  showed  signs  of  exhaustion. 


OlS  BOY  TIJffEf.  171 

The  Turks,  upon  their  fresh  and  fleet  steeds,  began  to 
gain  upon  her  every  minute. 

At  length  she  was  at  bay,  resolved  to  die  defending  her- 
self and  defying  her  enemies. 

She  placed  her  lance  in  rest  as  the  foremost  Turk  came  up. 

Despite  his  efforts  to  avoid  the  weapon,  she  thrust  it 
through  his  shoulder. 

He  fell,  desperately,  if  not  mortally  wounded,  and  fun  of 
rage  at  being  defeated  by  a  woman. 

His  nearest  companion  now  faced  the  beautiful  amazon, 
who  rapidly  drew  her  revolver— the  one  Jack  had  given  her 
— and  fired. 

The  baH  took  effect,  for  the  Turk  reeled  in  his  saddle  and 
fell  to  the  ground,  dead. 


But  Thyra  discharged  one,  two,  three  shots  from  her 
revolver,  and  the  last  killed  die  officer's  horse,  which  stag- 
gered and  fell,  bringing  the  rider  to  the  ground. 

Thyra  urged  her  steed  again  towards  the  sea. 


Herbert  Murray  and  diivcy  now  pi  vi%wd  tut  w^inl,  resolved 
to  try  and  gain  the  pasha's  reward  and  the  glory  of  achieving 
her  capture. 

Away  went  Thyra  on  her  gallant  steed. 

She  was  near  the  sea  now. 


The  British  cnriser  was  seen  about  a  mOe  away  in  the  offing, 
and  on  the  shore  stood  about  half  a  dozen  sailors,  taking 
charge  of  the  boats  in  which  the  armed  force  had  come  ashore. 

They  were  anxiously  watching  for  their  companions  to  re- 
turn, and  on  perceiving  Thyra's  peril,  two  of  them  went  to 


And  they  arrived  not  a  moment  too  soon. 

Herbert  Murray  had  ridden  up  to  her. 

Grasping  the  bridle  of  her  steed,  he  thought  be  had  effected 
her  capture. 

But  at  this  moment  a  voice  beside  him  cried  out  in  English — 

"Hands  off  there,  you  lubber! n 

This  showed  that  Thyra's  call  for  help  had  been  heard 
and  responded  to. 

Murray  turned,  and  saw  the  two  stalwart  British  tars  stand- 
ihg  beside  Thyra. 

-  Look  here,"  continued  the  sailor,  -  if  you  don't  leave 


172  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WA  Y  AND 

this  here  young  lady  alone,  and  be  off  instanter,  we'll  take 
you  aboard  and  let  our  captain  deal  with  you." 

Herbert  Murray  looked  around,  and  seeing  that  the  sailors 
were  in  a  position  to  carry  out  their  threat,  angrily  relin- 
quished the  chase,  and  turning  his  horse,  rode  off  with  Chivey, 
who  had  not  approached  quite  so  near. 


CHAPTER  LXXXVIII. 

END  OF  THE  CONTEST — DEATH  OF  THYRA. 

THYRA  was  securely  protected  by  these  gallant  tars  until 
the  rest  of  the  party  came  up,  which  was  not  long,  for  after 
a  slight  skirmish,  Jack  and  his  friends  managed  to  cut 
through  the  new  force  of  opposing  Turks,  and  make  their 
way  towards  the  ship. 

Ibrahim  Pasha,  enraged  at  being  thus  defied,  still  pressed 
on,  followed  by  all  his  force,  but  they  only  arrived  at  the 
shore  in  time  to  see  Jack  and  the  others  embarking  in  the 
boats. 

He  now  had  recourse  to  threats. 

"  In  the  name  of  His  Imperial  Majesty  the  Sultan,"  he 
said  to  the  officer  in  command,  "  I  command  you  to  give  up 
to  me  these  Englishmen,  who  have  escaped  from  justice." 

"They  are  British  subjects,"  returned  the  officer,  "who 
have  sought  the  protection  of  their  flag." 

"  Shall  British  subjects  commit  crime  and  yet  go  free  ?  " 
inquired  Ibrahim. 

"  What  crime  have  they  committed  ? "  asked  the  officer. 

"  Murder — the  assassination  of  his  highness,Moley  Pasha." 

"  What  evidence  have  you  to  show  to  connect  them  with 
his  death  ? "  asked  the  officer.  "  If  you  have  but  sufficient 
evidence,  they  shall  be  tried  before  a  proper  tribunal.  Where 
the  English  flag  floats,  justice  shall  be  done  to  all." 

The  pasha  bit  his  lip. 

He  knew  that  his  evidence  against  these  Englishmen  was 
very  slight,  being  in  fact  only  the  assertion  of  Murray  and 
Chivey,  and  that  any  mistake  on  his  part  would  bring  on 
political  trouble  that  might  be  his  ruin,  so  he  began  to  draw 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  173 

"  At  least,"  he  said,  "  you  can  not  refuse  to  give  me  back 
mv  own  property,  stolen  from  my  palace." 

"  That's  a  reasonable  request  enough,"  answered  the  lieu- 
tenant. "  Point  out  your  property,  and  you  shall  have  it." 

"  There  it  is,"  exclaimed  Ibrahim,  as  he  pointed  to  Thyra, 

"  That  your  property,  eh  ?  "  said  the  astonished  officer. 
"  Well,  a  very  nice  property  too.  But  how  was  she  stolen  ?  " 

"  Stolen  from  my  harem  by  that  son  of  Eblis  ! "  cried  the 
old  pasha,  pointing  to  Jack. 

"  Ah,  young  man,  I  see  how  it  is,"  said  the  officer,  gravely 
shaking  his  head  ;  "  you've  been  going  it  rather  too  fast,  and 
brought  on  this  trouble  all  on  account  of  this  Greek  girl." 

"  It's  a  lie,"  cried  Jack,  looking  fiercely  at  the  pasha ; 
"she  never  was  stolen,  and  never  did  belong  to  that  old 
coffee-coloured  villain,  and  what's  more,  never  shall,  if  Britons 
can  protect  her.  She  fled  of  her  own  accord  from  the  palace 
of  Moley  Pasha,  before  he  arrived,  and  sought  protection 
from  me  and  my  friends  in  the  town." 

"  In  that  case,"  said  the  officer,  "  we  cannot  give  her  up, 
for  the  British  government  does  not  recognise  slavery,  domes- 
tic or  otherwise.  Under  our  flag  she  is  free." 

A  cheer  of  defiance  from  the  group  of  English  sailors 
greeted  this  speech. 

"  By  the  soul  of  the  prophet,"  fiercely  exclaimed  the  pasha, 
"am  I  to  be  defied  by  a  boy,  and  an  infidel — a  son  of  Sheitan, 
to  boot  ?  " 

"  Boy  as  I  am,  I  defy  you,"  retorted  Jack. 

This  was  a  bold,  but  foolish  and  incautious  speech,  des- 
tined to  be  disastrous. 

The  pasha,  goaded  to  madness  by  Jack's  words  and  defiant 
manner,  drew  his  pistol  and  discharged  it  pointblank  at  our 
hero. 

The  action  was  a  rapid  one — so  rapid  as  to  take  Jack  un- 
awares, but  not  so  rapid  as  the  love-quickened  perceptions 
of  Thyrzu 

She  saw  the  pasha's  movement,  and  throwing  herself  for- 
ward, seized  Jack  just  in  time  to  draw  him  aside. 

By  so  doing,  she  saved  his  life,  but  at  the  expense  of  her 
own. 

The  bullet  lodged  in  her  breast,  and  with  a  cry  she  fell 
wounded  into  Jack's  arms. 

The  disaster  had  come  so  quickly  that  our  hero  scarcely 
comprehended  what  had  happened. 


174  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

The  pasha  frowned  darkly  when  he  saw  Thyra  fall. 

Some  remorse  was  awakened,  even  in  his  iron  heart. 

He  had  intended  to  take  a  life,  but  not  hers,  and  now  in- 
deed the  Pearl  of  the  Isles  was  lost  to  him  for  evermore. 

"  'Tis  you  now,  pasha,  who  have  committed  crime,"  said 
the  lieutenant,  "  and  for  this  I  call  you  to  account.  Sur- 
render to  answer  for  this  deed." 

"  Surrender  to  Christian  dogs !  Never,"  answered  the 
fierce  Ibrahim. 

"  Then,  men,  fire  upon  these  Turks,"  said  the  officer. 

The  rifles  of  the  sailors  were  accordingly  brought  to  cover 
upon  the  pasha's  force. 

Ibrahim  immediately  recognised  a  fresh  and  imminent 
danger,  and  resolved  on  a  retreat. 

Turning  his  horse,  he  gave  the  signal  to  his  followers,  and 
the  whole  body  marched  off  rapidly,  pursued  by  the  fire  of 
the  English. 

During  this  parley,  Kara-al-Zariel  and  his  Arabs  had  taken 
advantage  of  the  preoccupation  of  their  foes,  to  withdraw  to 
the  range  of  rugged  rocks  near  the  shore,  which  would  at 
once  shelter  them  from  the  attacks  of  the  Turks  and  give 
them  the  advantage  of  being  near  their  English  allies  in  the 
ship. 

But  the  pasha,  now  that  the  main  objects  of  his  expedi- 
tion had  escaped  him,  did  not  make  any  further  attempts  to 
pursue  the  Bedouins. 

He  and  the  remnant  of  his  forces  made  the  best  of  their 
way  across  the  desert  to  the  town. 

And  now  all  attention  was  drawn  towards  Thyra. 

All  perceived,  with  the  deepest  regret,  that  her  hours  were 
numbered. 

She  had  been  that  day  in  the  thick  of  more  than  one 
deadly  conflict. 

Hundreds  of  bullets  had  passed  her,  but  this  one,  aimed 
at  another,  had  only  too  successfully  performed  an  errand  of 
death. 

Terrible  indeed  was  the  grief  of  Jack  Harkaway. 

"  Oh,  Thyra,"  he  exclaimed,  "  my  brave,  dear  girl,  he  has 
killed  you." 

"  I  know  it,"  she  replied,  with  a  mournful  resignation, 
"  but  thank  Heaven  you,  dear  Jack,  are  saved." 

"  I  have  not  deserved  this  devotion  from  you,"  said  Jack, 
in  broken  accents,  while  the  tears  fell  from  his  eyes,  "  but 


OB  MOT  TOOOUC. 


-I  fear  not, 
be  taken  on  board,' 
Tnyrahad 

-t:  -irr. 


-  Here,  Harry,- said  our  beta  rousing  hh 
grief,  "help  me  to  cany  her  to  the  boat." 
Bat  ere  his  friend  could  futel  his  reqoest,  a 


between 

•--••- 

jacx:  s  am  10  <Baw  nm 


•9io  fcimi  but  mDC,   ciiol  A  IMWJC  bfofcen  br  mtci 

rbnU* 


gridr,  -  >hd  bear  tbe  Pcad  oC  the  Isles  to  yonder 
It  was  the  Arab  chief,  Al  ZarieL  his  face 


He  raised  her  tenderly,  this  wild  warrior 

^*       ,  mm  ^_   ,m 1-— ._ 

nis  Miuug  -*••»*•  m  me  coat. 

The  others  drew  back;  no  one  at  that  •!••<  irt  had 
heart  to  say  him  nay. 

Even  the  rough      ~ 
touched  by  the 

It  was  indeed 

wooldneivr  see  another        ^^^tboqs>>  ^  ^  dead» 

^r  --  •»  ~f ,     •    f  -»        J  i. ,..  ..  •  I«  •  J   al »    *  •    •   »        ~^  „   a 

Nara-at-Aariei  gentry  aeposneo.  me  ujiug  ^MI  m  me  TMT"T 
ttl  have  known  her 


dieff,  'and  daring  that  day  she  has  shone  upon  ay  path 

Front 


Re  a  gleam  of  sunshine  from  the 
the  first  instant  I  saw  her  I  iorof  her  as  I  bare  land  no 
other,  and  as  I 
He 


176  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA IVA  Y  AND 

It  was  not  grief  alone  that  made  him  kneel  beneath  the 
open  vault  of  Heaven. 

In  that  terrible  moment  he  registered  to  Heaven  a  vow 
of  vengeance  against  the  pasha  who  had  slain  the  Pearl  of 
the  Isles. 

The  sturdy  tars  bent  to  their  oars,  and  the  boat  left  the 
murmuring  waters  of  the  sunlit  Mediterranean. 

Arriving  on  the  ship,  Thyra  was  placed  with  all  care  and 
tenderness  upon  deck. 

The  doctor  examined  the  wound,  and  shook  his  head 
gravely. 

"  I  can  do  nothing  here ! "  he  said,  in  subdued  tones. 

None  answered  him  ;  only  they  saw  too  plainly  that  his 
words  were  final. 

Poor  Jack  Harkaway !  If  ever  in  his  young  life  he  had 
felt  grief,  it  was  now,  when  he  saw  one  who  had  so  hope- 
lessly loved  him,  dying  through  that  very  love. 

"  I  am  not  afraid  to  die,"  said  Thyra,  in  her  low,  faint 
voice,  "  and  to  die  in  this  way  is  the  best  of  all ;  for  my 
future  life  might  have  made  both  you  and  myself  un- 

"  Unhappy  !  How  could  that  be,  Thyra  ?  "  asked  Jack, 
as  he  knelt  beside  her,  his  hand  clasped  in  hers,  her  dying 
eyes  looking  upwards  into  his  face. 

"  Because  your  love  is  given  to  another,"  she  sighed,  "  and, 
therefore,  mine  is  hopeless ;  but  oh,  may  that  other — who- 
ever she  may  be — be  now  and  ever  happy  in  your  love." 

"  You  have  died  for  my  sake  !  "  he  said,  "  and  can  you 
think  I  can  feel  any  thing  but  the  deepest  gratitude,  the  most 
tender  feelings,  towards  you  ?  No,  dear  Thyra,  I  love  you 
now,  if  I  have  not  before." 

"To  hear  that  from  your  lips,"  she  murmured,  "  is  to  die 
happy.  All  I  ask  now,  is  that  you  will  always  remember  the 
little  Greek  girl  who  loved  you,  and — and  who  was  unhappy 
in  her  life,  and  happy  in  her  death." 

"  Remember  you  !  "  said  Jack,  "  remember  you,  my  noble 
Thyra  !  after  what  you  have  done  ?  Always  !  always  !  Dp 
not  pain  me  by  fearing  that  I  may  forget  you." 

"  Then  I  am  happy  still ;  listen.  Here  are  a  chain  and  a 
cross  of  gold ;  keep  them  in  remembrance  of  me,  and  when 
I  am  dead,  have  me  conveyed,  if  it  is  possible,  to  the  land 
of  my  birth,  the  beautiful  island  of  Naxos,  where  my  parents 
-still  live.  Bury  me  there." 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  iyy 

Jack  promised  this,  and  the  old  captain  of  the  ship  de- 
clared that  he  would  have  her  last  request  fulfilled. 

Thyra's  strength  was  now  almost  exhausted,  but,  with  a 
last  effort,  she  raised  herself  from  Jack's  supporting  arms, 
and  addressed  those  around  her. 

**  Friends,"  she  said,  "  I  give  you  many,  many  thanks  for 
what  yon  have  done  for  me,  in  protecting  me  and  aiding  my 
escape.  I  can  bat  ghre  you  thanks  and  my  farewelL  Fare- 
well s "  she  added,  "to  the  bright  blue  sky,  the  golden  sea, 
and  the  beautiful  green  island  where  I  was  born  and  where 
I  hope  to  rest  when  I  am  no  more." 

Here  her  voice  died  into  a  murmur,  and  the  rest  was 
inaudible  to  all  but  Jack. 

Jack  stooped  as  the  Arab  chief  had  done,  and 
a  fervent  kiss  upon  the  fair  young  face,  still  bent 
towards  him.    At  that  moment  he  felt  an  electric  thrill 
raise  her  frame,  followed  by  a  complete  stillness.     In  that 
last  fond  embrace  her  spirit'had  fled. 

Thyra's  troubles  were  over. 

Two  days  afterwards  the  ship,  whose  captain  had  under- 
taken to  convey  Jack  and  his  friends  from  those  turbulent 
shores,  touched  at  the  Greek  island  of  Xazos.  ThereThyra's 
parents  were  found,  and  the  sad  news  of  their  child's  death 
communicated  to  them. 

She  was  buried  in  the  little  cemetery  dose  to  the  shore, 
and  amid  groves  of  cypress  and  gardens  of  flowers,  where 
sweet  birds  sing  and  sea  breezes  softly  murmur,  lies  the  beau- 
tiful Greek  girl  who  loved  and  died  for  young  Jack  Harkaway. 

And  all  hearts  were  heavy  with  grief  when,  after  the 
funeral,  they  hoisted  sail,  and  steered  m  a  westerly  directioo. 


CHAPTER 

MOLE  AS  A  LINGUIST — AX  UGLY  CUSTOMER 


MARKET   PLATS  A  VERT  DEEP  GAME — THE  SHADOW 


OCR  friends  had  been  some  days  at  sea. 
The  weather  was  fair,  and  their  progress  was  for  a 
slow. 


178  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

At  length  one  day  there  was  a  cry — 

"  Land  ho  !  " 

"  Which  ?  "  said  our  hero,  who  was  anxious  for  any  thing 
that  would  make  him  forget  his  great  sorrow  for  Thyra. 

"  I  remarked  '  Land  ho ! '  Jack,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  for  he  it 
•was  who  first  detected  it. 

"  And  I  observed  '  Which  ? '  sir,"  said  Jack. 

"  And  why  that  unmeaning  interrogation  ? "  demanded 
Mr.  Mole. 

"  Your  speech  is  an  anomaly,  Mr.  Mole,"  responded  Jack, 
mimicking  the  voice  of  his  tutor  in  his  happiest  manner. 

"  Why  so  ?  " 

"You  say  my  question  is  unmeaning,  and  yet  you  ask  an 
explanation  of  it.  If  there  is  no  meaning  in  it,  how  can  I 
explain  it  ? " 

'•  Ahem  !  "  coughed  Mr.  Mole.  "  No  matter.  You  are 
too  much  given  to  useless  arguments,  Jack.  I  believe  you 
would  argue  with  the  doctor  attending  you  on  your  deathbed 
— yea.  with  the  undertaker  himself  who  had  to  bury  you." 

"  That's  piling  it  on,  sir,"  said  Jack,  in  a  half-reflective 
mood.  "  I  dare  say  I  should  have  a  shy  at  the  doctor  if  he 
tried  to  prove  something  too  idiotic,  but  we  must  draw  the 
line  at  the  doctor.  I  couldn't  argue  with  the  undertaker  at 
my  own  funeral,  but  I'll  tell  you  what,  Mr.  Mole,  no  doubt  I 
shall  argue  with  him  if  he  puts  it  on  too  stiff  in  his  bill  wheo 
we  put  you  away." 

"  Jack !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole,  inexpressibly  shocked. 

"A  plain  deal  coffin,"  pursued  Jack,  apparently  lost  in 
deep  calculation  ;  "  an  economical  coffin,  only  half  the  length 
of  an  ordinary  coffin,  because  you  could  unscrew  your  legs, 
and  leave  them  to  someone." 

"  That  is  very  unfeeling  to  talk  of  my  funeral,  dreadful  !  " 

"  You  are  only  joking  there,  I  know,  sir,"  returned  Jack, 
"  because  you  were  talking  of  mine," 

"  Ahem  ! "  said  Mole,  "  do  you  see  how  near  we  are  to 
land  ?  " 

"  Quite  so,  quite  so." 

"  Go  and  ask  the  captain  the  name  of  this  port." 

It  proved  to  be  Marseilles,  and  the  captain  knew  it,  as  he 
had  been  sailing  for  it,  and,  moreover,  they  were  very  quickly 
ashore. 

Mr.  Mole  was  especially  eager  to  air  his  French. 

"  You  speak  the  language  ?  "  asked  Jack. 


HIS  BOY  TUffEM.  179 

Mr.  Mote  smiled 


at^mTea 

-That's  a  good  thing,"  said  Jack,  tipping  the  wink  to 
Harry  Girdwood;  "for  you  can  interpret  all  round." 


troth,  and  while  it  inconvenienced  the  general  public,  the 
RoyaBst,  RrnaMir  ap,  Ortrankt,  or  whoever  •right  chance  to 
be  of  the  revolutionary  party  for  the  time  beh^CDnid  chuckle 
as  he  told  his  fibs  and  passed  on  to  the  forbidden  land. 

M.  fe  OmwJiuuire  confronted  Mr.  Mole,  and  barred  his 
p****!*"*1  to  interrogate  him. 

m P*r&m,  fisiaar, vemOkx Kern  me £re Tttre m*mt" 

-  What" s  that  ?"  said  Mole. 

"*  t^ftnf  JMK,  5  ff  vwuf  futtf,    repeated  the 

-  ReaDy,  I  haven't  the  pleasure  of 

ordinates.     '«&*/&*/* 

-  Xow.  Mr.  Mole,"  said  Jack,  who  was  dose  behind  the 
old  gentleman,  "why  dont  you  speak  np?» 

- 1  dont  qmte  ioDowhim." 

K  He's  only  asking  a  question,  yon  know.     You  poBy-roo 


He's 


Yes  ;  precisely,  Jack.    Bat  I  don't  follow  his  accent. 

peasant,  I  suppose." 
"  Fttre  *rmf  demanded  the  official,  rather  fiercely  this 


"Now,  then,  Mr.  Mole/1  cried  a  voice  in  tfaerear,  "you're 
stopping  everyone.    Get  it  out  and  more  on. 

•Dear,  dear  me!  "said  Mole.     -  What  does  it  mean  ?  - 
He's  asking  yonr  name,"  said  Jack,  "  and  yon  cant  un- 


*  m  tell  him  for  yon,  as  you  dont  seem  to  know  a  word. 
said  Jack.    "J7j'jBydaBr/ftrFJfti&i"  he  added  totbecommis 


"JiJtt  MM,"  repeated  the  I  nmmii  i  me.    mJIatAjrmk? 


l8o  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  Out,  monsieur.  C'tst  un  des  lieutenants  du  grand  Abd-eL 
Kader." 

"  Vraiment  /"  exclaimed  the  commissaire,  in  a  tone  of 
mingled  surprise  and  respect.  "  Passes,  M'sieur  Aike  Moll."  * 

They  went  on,  and  Mole  anxiously  questioned  Jack. 

"  I'm  getting  quite  deaf,"  said  he,  by  way  of  a  pretext  for 
not  having  understood  the  conversation.  "  Whatever  were 
you  saying  ? " 

"  I  told  him  your  name  was  Isaac  Mole,  sir,"  returned  Jack. 

"  You  said  Ikey  Mole,  sir,"  retorted  Mole,  "  and  that  is  a 
very  great  liberty,  sir." 

"  Not  at  all.  Ike'  is  the  French  for  Isaac,"  responded  the 
Unblushing  Jack. 

"  But  what  was  all  that  they  were  saying  about  Arab  ?  " 

"  Arab  !  "  repeated  Jack,  in  seeming  astonishment. 

"  Yes." 

"  Didn't  hear  it  myself." 

"  I  certainly  thought  I  caught  the  word  Arab,"  said  Mr. 
Mole,  giving  Jack  a  very  suspicious  glance. 

"  You  never  made  a  greater  mistake,  sir,  in  your  life." 

"  How  very  odd." 

"Very." 

****** 

The  Cannebiere  is  the  chief  promenade  in  Marseilles,  and 
the  inhabitants  of  this  important  seaport  are  not  a  little  proud 
of  it. 

Two  men  sat  smoking  cigarettes  and  sipping  lazily  at  their 
grog  au  vin  at  the  door  of  one  of  then  umerous  cafes  in  the 
Cannebiere. 

To  these  two  men  we  invite  the  reader's  attention. 

One  was  a  swarthy-looking  Frenchman  from  the  south,  a 
man  of  a  decent  exterior,  but  with  a  fierce  and  restless 
glance. 

He  was  the  sort  of  man  whom  you  would  sooner  have  a.9 
a  friend  than  as  an  enemy. 

*  "  He  calls  himself  Ikey  Mole,"  says  Jack  to  the  commissaire  de police. 
"  Atkl  Moll  !  "  repeats  the  commissaire,  pronouncing  the  incongruous 

sounds  as  nearly  as  he  can.     "  Why,  he  must  be  an  Arab." 
To  which  Jack,  with  all  his  ready  impudence,  replies — 
"  Yes,  sir,  he  is  an  Arab.     He  was  one  of  Abd-el-Kader's  lieutenants." 
We  need  scarcely  remind  our  readers  that  Abd-el-Kader  was    the 

doughty  Arab  chief  who  made  so  heroic  a  resistance  to  the  French  in 

Algiers. 

This  satisfied  the  commissaire,  who  respectfully  bade  Mole  pass  on. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  iSl 

A  «t«»aHfa«tfr  friend — an  implacable  foe  ! 

That  was  what  yon  read  in  his  peculiar  physiognomy,  in 
that  odd  mixture  of  defiance  and  fearlessness,  those  ^nxHfvr 
glances,  frankness  and  deceit,  the  varied  expressions  of  which 
passed  in  rapid  succession  across  his  countenance. 

This  man  called  himself  Pierre  Lenoir,  although  he  was 
known  in  other  ports  by  other  names. 

Pierre  Lenoir  was  a  sort  of  Jack  of  all  trades. 

He  had  been  apprenticed  to  an  engraver,  and  had  shown 
remarkable  aptitude  for  that  profession,  but,  being  of  a  roving 
and  restless  disposition,  he  ran  away  from  his  employer  to 
ship  on  board  a  merchant  vessel 

After  a  cruise  or  two  he  was  wrecked,  and  narrowly  es- 
caped with  his  life. 

Tired  of  the  sea,  for  awhile  be  obtained  employment  with 
a  medallist,  where  his  skill  as  an  engraver  stood  him  in 
good  stead. 

From  this  occupation  he  fled  as  soon  as  his  ready  adapt- 
ability had  made  him  a  useful  hand  to  his  new  master,  and 
took  to  a  roving  life  again.  What  he  was  now  doing  in 
Marseilles  no  one  could  positively  assert. 

How  it  was  that  Pierre  Lenoir  had  such  an  abundant  sup- 
ply of  ready  money,  the  progress  of  our  narrative  will  show — 
for  with  it'  are  connected  several  of  not  the 
episodes  in  the  career  of  young  Jack  Harkaway. 

So  much  for  Pierre  Lenoir. 

Now  for  his  companion  at  the  cafe. 

He  was  called  Markby,  and,  as  his  name  indicates,  he  was 
an  Englishman. 

Being  but  a  poor  French  scholar,  he  had  scraped  up  an  ac- 
quaintance with  Pierre  Lenoir,  chiefly  on  account  of  the  lat- 
ter's  proficiency  in  the  English  language. 

There  is  little  to  be  said  concerning  Markby's  past  history, 
for  reasons  which  will  presently  be  apparent. 

What  further  reason  he  may  have  had  for  cultivating  the 
friendship  of  the  rover,  Pierre  Lenoir,  will  probably  show 

itself  in  due  course. 

****** 

"  I  have  disposed  of  that  last  batch  of  five-franc  pieces," 
said  Markby.     "  Here  are  the  proceeds." 
"  Keep  h' back,"  exclaimed  Lenoir  hurriedly. 
-  What  for?" 
•*  It  is  sheer  madness  for  as  to  be  seen  conversing  to- 


182  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

gather,"  replied  Lenoir,  casting  an  anxious  glance  about  him 
from  behind  his  hat,  which  he  held  in  his  hand  so  as  to  shield 
his  features,  "  much  less  to  be  seen  exchanging  money — 
why,  it  is  suicidal — nothing  less." 

"  Is  there  any  danger,  do  you  think  ?  " 

"  Do  I  think  ?  Do  I  know  ?  Why,  this  place  is  literally 
alive  with  spies — mouchards  as  we  called  them  here.  Every 
second  man  you  meet  is  a  mouchard" 

"  Do  you  mean  it  ? " 

"  Rather." 

"  That's  not  a  pleasant  thing  to  know,"  said  Markby. 

"  I  don't  agree  with  you  there,"  replied  Lenoir.  "  '  Fore- 
warned, forearmed,'  is  a  proverb  in  your  language.  But  now 
tell  me  about  this  friend  and  countryman  of  yours. " 

"  He's  no  friend  of  mine,"  returned  Markby.  "  I  know 
him  as  a  great  traveller,  and  one  who  has  opportunities  of 
placing  more  false " 

Hush,  imprudent !  "  interrupted  Lenoir.  "  Call  it  stock. 
You  know  not  how  many  French  spies  may  be  passing,  or 
how  near  we  may  be  to  danger." 

Markby  took  the  hint  given  him,  and  continueu — 

"Well,  stock.  He  can  place  more — he  has  probably 
placed  more  than  any  man  alive.  He  travels  about  en  grand 
seigneur — lords  it  in  high  places  and  disposes  of  the  coun- 
terf " 

Stock." 

Stock,  in  regular  loads.  But  he's  as  wary  as  a  fox — noth- 
ing can  approach  him  in  cunning." 

"  The  very  man  I  want, "exclaimed  Lenoir.  "  Thisfellow 
could,  with  my  aid,  make  a  fortune  for  himself  and  me  in 
less  than  a  year — a  large  fortune." 

"  You  are  very  sanguine,"  said  Markby,  with  a  smile. 

"  I  am,  but  not  over  sanguine.  I  speak  by  the  book,  for  I 
know  well  what  I  am  talking  of.  You  must  introduce  me." 

"You  are  running  on  wildly,"  said  Markby.  "  Did  I  not 
tell  you  that  he  did  not  know  me — that  he  would  not  know 
me  if  he  did?  So  careful  is  he  that  his  own  brother  would 
fail  to  draw  any  thing  from  him  concerning  the  way  in  which 
he  gets  his  living." 

"Dame/"  muttered  Lenoir,  "he  seems  a  precious  diffi- 
cult fellow  to  approach." 

"  Yes,  on  that  subject,"  responded  Markby  ;  "  but  he's 
genial  and  agreeable  enough  if  you  introduce  yourself  by  ac- 


ffJS  BOY  TINKER.  183 

IT,  with- 


out the  vaguest  refereiKe  to  the  subject  nearest  your 

"  How  shall  I  ever  lead  him  up  to  die  point  ?  " 

u  Easily.  For  instance,  talk  about  art  matters.  Allude 
to  vour  gallery  of  sculpture.  Ask  him,  is  he  fond  of  has  re- 
liefs ?  Tell  him  of  your  skill  as  a  medallist." 

"  Medallist  might  put  him  on  the  scent,  if  he  is  so  dread- 
fully wary,"  said  Lenoir. 

"No  fear.  He  would  never  dream  of  such  a  thing. 
Medalling  being  a  sort  of  sister  art  to  what  most  interests 
him,  he  would  be  sure  to  bite  at  the  chance.  You  lead  him 
to  your  little  underground  snuggery,  and  once  there  all  need 
for  his  wonderful  caution  will  be  at  an  end.* 

"  I  see,"  said  Lenoir,  rubbing  his  hands, 
and  here  his  face  grew  a  bit  serious—"  this  fellow  is 
fui?" 

"True  as  steel,"  responded  Markby. 

"That's  right,"  said  Lenoir,  with  a  look  that  caused  a 
twinge  of  uneasiness  to  be  felt  by  bis  f^mpaninM,  "for  woe 
betide  the  man  that  plays  me  false." 

"  No  fear  of  t*"5  man — man,  I  call  him,  but  be  is  hi  ap- 
pearance at  least  little  more  than  a  lad,  ahhoogfa  be  was  trav- 
elled all  over  the  world." 

Here  Markby  arose  to  move  away. 

"Stop  a  bit,"  said  Lenoir.  "I  have  forgotten  to  ask 
rather  an  ImnnrtMt  dH*"1 " 

-What  is  k?" 

«  The  name  of  this  feDow?" 

*  Jack  Harkaway,"  was  the  reply. 


CHAFFER  XC 

MASCOT'S   sossm—oar  THK   WATCH  I— "SMART   FBLLOW, 
MARKBY  I " — MARKET'S  MYRMIDON— THK  SPY'S  MISSIO.X. 

THE  E"g¥i*hinan  Markby  was  gone  before  Pierre  Lenoir 
could  question  him  further. 

"Jack  Harkaway  ?  "  exclaimed  Lenoir;  « I  have  heard 
that  name  before.  Of  course ;  I  remember  now.  Bat 
Markby  speaks  of  him  as  a  lad.  Why,  the  Harkaway  that 
I  remember  must  be  a  middle-aged  man  by  now 


184  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

what  little  I  knew  of  Harkaway  then  would  not  show  him  to 
be  a  likely  man  for  my  purpose." 

Not  long  after  this,  as  Lenoir  was  upon  the  point  of  rising 
and  leaving  the  cafe*,  a  commissionaire  or  public  messenger 
came  up  at  a  run  with  a  note  in  his  hand. 

"  M'sieu  Lenoir." 

"  Cest  moi" 

He  took  the  note  and  found  it  to  contain  the  following 
words,  scribbled  boldly  by  Markby — 

"  They  are  now  coming  along  in  your  direction.  You  will 
easily  recognise  them — two  youths  in  sailor  dress.  Follow 
them,  and  if  they  stay  at  any  of  the  cafes,  I  leave  you  to 
scrape  up  an  acquaintance  with  them. — M." 

"  Markby  has  been  upon  the  qui  vive"  said  Lenoir  to  him- 
self. "  Smart  fellow,  Markby ! " 

Glancing  to  the  left,  he  saw  the  two  young  sailors  approach- 
ing :  so  Pierre  Lenoir  made  up  his  mind  at  once. 

He  stepped  into  the  house,  intending  to  let  them  pass  and 
then  follow  them,  and,  if  by  chance  they  should,  on  their 
way,  stop  at  either  of  the  cafe's,  he  could  drop  in  and  seek 
the  opportunity  he  so  much  desired. 

But  while  he  was  waiting  the  young  sailors  came  up,  and, 
instead  of  passing  the  cafe  they  dropped  into  chairs  at  the 
door  and  called  for  refreshments. 

This  was  more  than  Lenoir  had  bargained  for. 

However,  it  was  no  use  wasting  time. 

He  desired  to  profit  by  the  opportunity,  and  so  out  he  came 
and  sat  at  the  next  table  to  the  two  young  Englishmen. 
*  *  *  *  *  * 

"  What's  your  opinion  of  Marseilles,  Jack  ?  " 

"  Nothing  great." 

"  Ditto." 

"  Nothing  to  see  once  you're  out  of  sight  of  the  sea,  and 
the  natives  are  not  very  interesting.  They  only  appear  to 
be  full  of  conceit  about  their  town  without  the  least  reason 
for  it.  I  should  like  to  know  if  there  is  really  any  thing  in 
Marseilles  to  warrant  the  faintest  belief  in  the  place." 

This  was  Pierre  Lenoir's  opportunity. 

He  stepped  forward. 

"  Excuse  me,  gentlemen,"  said  he.  "  Englishmen,  I  pre- 
sume?" 


ff/S  BOY  TINKER.  185 

«  Yes,  sir  '  responded  Jack  ;  -  are  you  English  ?" 

«*  I  haven't  that  honour,"  replied  Pierre  Lenoir. 

"  You  speak  good  English.  You  have  resided  in  England, 
I  suppose,  for  a  long  while  ?  " 

•'  No,  only  a  short  time.  Long  enough  to  get  a  desire  to 
go  back  there," 

"  That's  very  kind  of  you  to  say  so.  Your  countrymen,  as 
a  rule,  don't  speak  in  such  flattering  terms  of  la  perficU 
Albion." 

"  And  yet  they  are  glad  enough  to  find  a  refuge  there," 

"True." 

"  Are  you  a  native  of  Marseilles  ?  "  asked  Harry. 

"No." 

"  Then  you  are  not  offended  at  our  remarks?  ** 

"  Not  a  bit,"  replied  Lenoir  heartily.  "  The  Marseillais 
are  absurdly  conceited  about  their  town,  and  after  all  it 
contains  but  few  objects  of  interest  for  a  traveller." 

"  Very  few." 

"  There  are  some,  however,  and  if  you  will  accept  my 
escort,  I  shall  be  very  happy  to  show  you  them." 

They  expressed  their  thanks  at  this  courteous  offer  which, 
on  a  very  little  pressing,  they  were  glad  to  accept 

M  Thanks ;  we  will  go  and  tell  a  friend,  who  is  waiting  for 
us  down  by  the  quay,  that  he  must  not  expect  us  for  an 
hour  or  so." 

"Very  good." 

****** 

Markby  must  have  been  pretty  keenly  upon  the  lookout, 
Cor  no  sooner  were  they  gone  than  back  he  came. 

"  Well,  what  success  ?  " 

"Just  as  I  wished,"  returned  Lenoir,  with  a  great  chuckle ; 
•  they  are  coming  back  directly." 

u  That's  your  chance ;  you  have  only  to  take  them  up  to 
your  place.  Once  there,  you  will  do  as  you  please  with 
them." 

"There  is  no  danger? " 

"What  can  there  be!" 

"  Only  this — suppose  that  you  were  mistaken  ?  " 

Markby  was  visibly  offended  at  this. 

"  If  yon  think  that  likely  after  all  I  have  told  you,  take  my 
advice 'and  have  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  them.  I  dont 
want  to  expose  you  to  any  risk  that  you  think  you  ought  not 
to  run," 


186  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

Lenoir  appeared  to  waver  momentarily. 

Markby  eyed  him  anxiously  for  awhile,  until  Lenoir,  with 
an  air  of  resolution,  exclaimed — 

"  Hang  the  risk.     I'll  go  for  it  neck  or  nothing." 

"  And  you  will  take  them  there  to-night" 

"I  will." 

"  Good !  You'll  have  no  cause  to  repent  your  decision. 
They'll  do  you  a  turn  that  you  little  contemplate." 

**  Right !     Now  off  with  you." 

"  I'm  gone." 

And  away  he  went. 

"  What  a  strange  fellow  that  Markby  is,"  thought  Pierre 
Lenoir,  looking  after  him.  "  What  an  odd  laugh  he  has." 

Alas !  Pierre  Lenoir  had  good  reason  to  bear  that  laugh 
in  mind. 

But  we  must  not  anticipate. 

****** 

As  soon  as  Markby  was  fairly  out  of  sight,  he  beckoned 
over  to  a  young  man  in  white  blouse  and  a  cap,  who  had 
walked  along  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  way,  keeping 
Markby  in  view  all  the  while  without  appearing  to  notice 
him. 

The  fellow  in  the  blouse  ran  across  at  once. 

"  Well,  how's  it  going  ?  " 

"  Beautiful,"  returned  Markby,  "  nothing  could  be  better. 
Already  have  Harkaway  and  his  hard-knuckled  companion, 
Girdwood,  been  seen  in  Lenoir's  society.  But  before  the 
day  is  over  they  will  be  seen  in  the  Caveaux  themselves, 
where  proofs  of  their  guilt  will  spring  up  hydra-headed  from 
the  very  ground." 

"  And  what  will  it  end  in  ? "  asked  the  other,  eagerly. 

"  The  galleys,"  returned  Markby,  with  fierce  intensity. 

"  Beautiful !  "  exclaimed  the  man  in  the  blouse,  with  un- 
feigned admiration.  "  You  always  must  have  been  a  precious 
sight  downier  than  I  thought.  Why,  your  old  man  was  no 
fool.  He  made  a  brown  or  two  floating  his  coffins,  but  he 
was  a  guileless  pup  compared  to  you." 

"You  keep  watch,"  said  Markby,  hurriedly;  "and  be 
ready  for  any  emergency.  It  is  a  bold  stroke  we  are  play- 
ing for.  Lenoir  is  a  desperate  ruffian,  and  the  least  mistake 
in  the  business  would  be  something  which  I  for  one  don't 
care  to  contemplate." 

"  Lenoir  be  blowed,"  replied  the  man  in  the  blouse  ;  "tb« 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  187 

only  people  I  care  about  if  we  should  go  and  make  a  mess 
of  the  job  is,  firstly — Jack  Harkaway,  and  secondly,  his  pal 
Harry  Gird  wood,  which  a  harder  fist  than  his  I  have  seldom 
received  on  my  unlucky  snuffer-tray." 
And  he  was  gone. 


CHAPTER  XCL 

MARKETS  NEXT  STEP — THE  PREFECT  OF  POLICE— THE  PLOT 
THICKENS — A  GLIMPSE  OF  MARKET'S  PURPOSE — A  DCUBL* 
TRAITOR — DEADLY  PERIL. 

MARKBY  went  off  muttering  to  himself. 

"  Wish  that  scamp  could  only  share  the  fate  I  have  reserved 
for  that  accursed  Harkaway.  However,  I  can't  manage 
that,  so  I  must  be  thankful  for  small  mercies." 

****** 

A  short  walk  brought  this  Markby  to  the  office  of  die 
prefect  of  police,  and  his  business  being  of  considerable 
importance,  he  was  fortunate  hi  soon  obtaining  an  interview 
with  that  great  man  himself. 

**This  is  an  excellent  opportunity,"  said  the  head  of  the 
police,  "  if  your  information  is  thoroughly  reliable,  although 
I  confess  that  it  almost  sounds  too  good  to  be  true." 

"  Pardon  me,  monsieur,"  said  Markby,  "  the  expression  you 
use  sounds  as  though  I  had  got  information  second-hand; 
I  am  a  principal.  On  the  ioth,you  will  please  to  remember. 
I  have  to  be  of  the  party." 

"  It  is  a  very  important  matter,"  said  the  prefect,  "  that 
I  will  not  attempt  to  disguise  from  you.  This  Lenoir  is 
evidently  at  the  head  of  a  gigantic  conspiracy.  We  have 
been  long  seeking  to  discover  how  he  disposed  of  his 
counter " 

"Stock,"  said  Markby,  interrupting  the  prefect,  with  a 
smile.  '*  He  is  the  quintessence  of  caution,  sir,  and  he  never 
alludes  to  it  by  any  other  term." 

"You  really  think  that  these  English  people  are  their 
confidants  ?  " 

a  The  chief  confederates ;  yes.  They  are  the  heads  of 
the  English  part  of  our  scheme." 

"  How  many  men  should  you  require  r  "  demanded  the 
prefect,  changing  the  subject  abruptly. 


188  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

"A  dozen  fully  armed,  in  plain  clothes.  These  can 
descend  into  the  caveaux  to  make  the  capture." 

«  A  dozen ! " 

"Yes." 

«  So  many ! " 

"  You  don't  know  Lenoir,"  said  Markby ;  "  he's  the  very 
devil  when  he's  aroused.  A  dozen  will  have  all  their  work 
to  do.  As  for  the  two  Englishmen " 

"  They  are  young,"  exclaimed  the  prefect. 

"They  are  young  fiends.  I  have  seen  them  fight  like 
devils.  They  are  just  as  dangerous  as  Lenoir.  They  are 
an  cunning  as  the  evil  one  himself,  and  will  gammon  even 
you,  by  their  plausible  tales." 

"  Let  me  see,"  said  the  prefect,  thoughtfully.  "  I  will 
take  note  of  the  names  which  you  tell  me  they  are  likely  to 
assume." 

"  One  has  been  calling  himself  Jack  Harkaway." 

*  And  the  other  ? " 

"Harry  Girdwood." 

"  Good — and  you  can  prove  that  both  the  persons  whose 
names  are  assumed  are  in  Turkey  ?  " 

"I  can." 

"  Very  good,"  said  the  prefect,  rising,  to  intimate  that  the 
intercourse  was  over.  "  Our  men  shall  be  there  in  force  for 
the  capture." 


CHAPTER  XCII. 

THE  HARKA  WAY'S  GUIDE — LENOIR*S  MUSEUM — THE  CAVEAUX, 
AND  WHAT  THEY  SAW  THERE— THE  MEDALS — THE  TRUTH 
AT  LAST — A  COINER'S  TRADE — AN  ALARM — A  DESPERATE 
FELLOW. 

"  HERE  we  are  again,  sir,"  said  Harry  Girdwood,  stepping 
up  to  Pierre  Lenoir  ;  "  but  I  fear  we  are  taking  a  great  liberty 
in  asking  you  to  cicerone  such  a  large  party  as  we  muster 
here." 

Lenoir  smiled. 

It  was  not  a  free,  frank  smile. 

To  tell  the  truth,  he  was  a  bit  annoyed,  for  besides  the 
two  youths  there  was  Mole,  and  the  attendant  darkeys  with 
them,  Tinker  and  Bogey. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  1*9 

is  a  cautious  man,  and  be  did  not  care  to  ran 
risks. 

-Are  they  friends  and  confidants  of  yours?"  he  asked, 
rather  pointedly. 

It  was  an  odd  speech  to  make,  but  as  he  smiled  slight??, 
they  took  it  for  a  sort  of  joke. 

"  Oh,  yes,  they  are  confidential  friends,"  returned  Harry 
Girdwood,  smiling. 

-  Very  good,  let  as  begin  oar  look  round.    We  wffl  walk 
along  the  quays  if  you  Eke,  and  thence  past  the  Hotel  de 
Ville.    I  shall  show  you  several  objects  of  undoubted  inter- 
est," said  Lenoir,  significantly. 

He  led  the  way  on. 

Jack  fefl  back  a  few  paces,  walking  on  with  Harry  Gkd- 
wood. 

"  He's  a  very  odd  fellow,"  whispered  the  latter. 

-Verj." 

Lenoir  led  them  over  die  town  before  he  ventured  to 
approach  the  Caveaux. 

"  I  have  a  little  museum  not  far  away,"  he  said. 

"  I  am  afraid  we  shall  be  intruding,  ""began  Jack. 

"Not  a  bit,"  protested  Lenoir. 

The  snuggery  in  question  was  situated  at  some  little  d»- 
tance  from  the  town,  and  away  from  the  main  road. 

The  cottage  was  only  a  one-story  building. 

**  His  museum  is  not  veiy  extensive,  whispered  Harry 
Girdwood  to  his  companion,  "if  it  is  that  cottage." 

Lenoir  was  remarkably  quick-eared. 

-My  mwm  is  cunningly  arranged,"  he  said  to  Jack, 
looking  over  his  shoulder  as  he  walked  on ;«  you  dontget 
all  over  it  at  once.  Here  we  are." 

They  had  reached  the  threshold,  and  opening  the  door, 
he  led  the  way  in. 

*  It  was  a  neat  litde  cottage  interior,  with  nothing  about 
it  to  attract  attention. 

Passing  through  the  first  room,  Lenoir  conducted  them  to 
a  sort  of  out-house  beyond. 

Here  they  came  upon  the  first  surprise. 

He  opened  a  door  which  apparently  shut  in  a  cupboard, 
and  this,  to  then-  intense  astonishment,  revealed  a  flight  of 
tone  steps  which  seemingly  kd  into  the  very  bowels  of  the 

".-T.. 

Haflo!- exclaimed  Jack;  «  why,  what's  this?* 


190  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"  I  thought  I  should  astonish  you,  now,"  said  Lenoir,  with 
bis  same  calm  smile. 

"What  is  this  place?" 

"  There  is  a  whole  series  of  caves  below  these,  apparently 
aatural  formations.  The  only  way  I  can  account  for  them 
myself  is  that  at  some  time  or  other  some  experimental 
mining  operations  have  gone  on  there.  Would  you  like  to  go 
down  and  see  the  place?" 

"  With  pleasure,"  returned  Jack,  eagerly. 

"  Allow  me  to  lead  the  way." 

When  they  had  descended  a  few  steps,  Jack  half  repented. 

This  man  was  a  stranger  to  them,  and  he  had  brought 
them  to  a  very  wild  and  out-of-the-way  place. 

Had  he  any  evil  purpose  in  bringing  them  there  ? 

Jack  stood  wavering  for  a  few  seconds — no  more. 

"  We  are  four,"  he  said  to  himself,  "  four  without  count- 
ing Mr.  Mole ;  they  must  be  a  pretty  tough  lot  to  frighten 
us  much,  after  all  said  and  done." 

So  saying  down  he  went. 

The  others  followed  close  behind  him. 

At  the  base  of  the  flight  of  steps  they  found  themselves 
in  a  spacious  vault  that  was  unpleasantly  dark. 

"  Allow  me  to  lead  the  way  now,"  said  Lenoir,  passing 
on.  "  Follow  me  closely ;  there  is  no  fear  of  stumbling, 
there  is  nothing  in  the  way." 

So  saying,  he  conducted  them  through  this  opening, 
which,  by  the  way,  was  so  low  that  they  had  to  stoop  in 
passing  under,  and  found  themselves  now  in  a  narrow  cave, 
which  reminded  young  Jack  forcibly  of  the  dungeon  and  its 
approach  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  in  the  Tower  of  London. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  this  place  ? "  demanded  the  guide. 

"  A  very  curious  sight,"  was  the  reply.  "  You  put  all  this 
space  to  no  use  ?  " 

"  Pardon  me,"  said  Lenoir ;  "  I  practise  my  favorite  hobby 
here." 

"  Here ! " 

"  Yes — or  rather  in  the  next  cellar  beyond." 

"  And  what  may  be  that  favourite  hobby  ?  " 

"  Medalling,"  was  Lenior's  reply. 

And  again  he  shot  at  his  questioners  one  of  those  peculiar 
glances  which  had  so  astonished  them  before, 

"  I  should  like  to  see  some  of  your  work,"  said  Jack. 

"  I  thought  you  would,"  said  Lenoir,  with  a  quiet  chuckle. 


i 


tttS  BOY  TIXfEJL 
led  the  way  into  the  next  celar  or 


'•I:.  i-7  :t.i.::-.- 
^  Over-cautions  ? 

-  \l*k«-        ....          _1 -  TiTl  11  mtiim  tku     ,.-,  -,-M  T 

»»"J.  Jf  i     ••!.  I**-    w»ereiore  mis  rcserpc.     .._, 
mid  TOO  pretend  not  to  •mlriMand?    Ddnt  yon  see,"  he 
added,  vtth  a  omung  lea;  sthat  I  on  Bake 
»  perfectly  as  they  can  at  the  Hotel  de  la 

itaSiSt?- 

-So  I  see,"  said  Jack, 

A  faint  Eght  began  to  dawn  upon  Harrj 

too  "HMHtj,  the  icjdei'  viD  say. 


192  YOUNG  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  It  is  rather  a  dangerous  pastime,  Mr.  Lenoir,  this  medal- 
ling  fancy  of  yours,"  he  said. 

"No,"  said  Lenoir,  pointedly,  "the  danger  is  not  there; 
the  danger  of  this  pastime,  as  you  call  it,  is  in  disposing  of 
my  beautiful  medals." 

"  Dear  me,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Mole.     "  Do  you  sell  them  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  How  much  ? " 

"  The  five-franc  pieces  two  francs  and  a  half,"  replied 
Lenoir,  "  and  so  on  throughout  until  we  get  up  to  the  louis, 
the  twenty-franc  pieces ;  those  I  can  do  for  seven  francs. 
You  can  pass  them  without  risk." 

This  told  all. 

Jack  and  his  friends  were  astounded. 

"Are  you  making  us  overtures  to  join  you  in  passing  bad 
money  ?  "  demanded  young  Jack. 

"Not  bad  money,"  returned  Lenoir,  "very  good  money — 
,:all  my  own  make." 

"  It  is  very  evident  that  you  do  not  know  us,"  said  Harry 
'Girdwood,  "  and  so  are  considerably  mistaken.  Why  you 
.have  brought  us  here  and  placed  yourself  in  our  power,  it  is 
-utterly  beyond  me  to  understand." 

Lenoir  stared. 
,      "  What !  " 

"  The  position  is  most  embarrassing,"  said  Jack.  "  To  do 
our  duty  would  be  to  repay  by  great  ingratitude  your  kind- 
ness in  guiding  us  about  the  town,  for  we  ought  to  denounce 
you  to  the  police  authorities." 

This  speech  partook  of  the  nature  of  a  threat  and  Pierre 
Lenoir  was  up  in  an  instant. 

"  The  worst  day's  work  of  your  life  would  be  that,"  he 
said,  fiercely.  "  No  man  plays  traitor  to  Pierre  Lenoir  a 
second  time." 

"  Traitor  is  a  wrong  term,"  said  Jack ;  "  we  are  not  sworn 
to  share  such  confidences  as  yours.  We  shall  leave  you  now, 
but " 

"  Stop  ! " 

They  were  moving  towards  the  entrance  when  Lenoir 
sprang  before  them,  and  whipped  out  a  brace  of  revolvers. 

The  position  grew  exciting  and  unpleasant. 

"  Stand  out  of  the  way,  and  let  us  pass,"  exclaimed  Jack, 
impetuously. 

"  Don't  come  any  nearer,"  said  Lenoir,  with  quiet  deter- 


HIS  BOY  TINKER. 


'93 


mination,  "  for  I  warn  you  that  it  would  be  dangerous.  You 
can't  move  from  this  place  until  you  have  made  terms  with 
me." 

"  I  for  one  will  have  nothing  whatever  to  say  to  you," 
said  Jack,  haughtily.  "  I  don't  care  to  bargain  with  a  coiner." 

With  his  old  foolhardy  way  he  was  stepping  forward,  in 
peril  of  his  very  life. 

Lenoir  was  a  desperate  man,  in  a  desperate  strait. 

His  finger  trembled  upon  the  trigger. 

"  Stand  back,  on  your  life." 

u  You  stand  aside,"  cried  Jack. 

a  Another  step  and  I  fire !  "  cried  Lenoir. 

"Bah!" 

Jack  pushed  on. 

Lenoir  pulled  the  trigger. 

Bang  it  went. 

But  the  ball  whistled  harmlessly  over  Jack's  head,  and 
lodged  in  the  slanting  roof. 

A  friendly  hand  from  behind  the  coiner  had  knocked  up 
his  arm  in  die  very  nick  of  time. 

At  the  self-same  instant  some  eight  or  ten  men,  fully 
armed,  burst  into  the  vault. 

One  of  them,  who  was  apparently  in  command,  pointed  to 
Lenoir,  and  said  to  the  others — 

"  Arrest  that  man.     He's  the  leader  of  them." 

And  before  the  coiner  could  offer  any  resistance,  they 
knocked  his  weapons  from  his  hands,  and  fell  upon  him. 

But  Lenoir  was  a  powerful  fellow — a  desperate,  deter- 
mined man,  and  not  so  easily  disposed  of. 

With  wonderful  energy,  he  tore  himself  from  them,  and, 
producing  something  from  one  of  his  pockets,  he  held  it 
menacingly  up. 

"Advance  a  step,"  he  exclaimed,  "  and  I  will  blow  you  all 
to  atoms,  myself  as  well.  Beware !  I  hold  all  our  lives  in 
my  hand.  Now  who  dares  advance  ?  " 


194  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 


CHAPTER  XCIII. 

LENOIR'S  FLIGHT — MURRAY  THE  TRAITOR — HIS  PUNISHMENT 

AND  FLIGHT — A  LONG   RUN THE  AUBERGE — A  STRANGE 

DISAPPEARANCE. 

THERE  was  a  pause. 

Pierre  Lenoir  looked  like  mischief. 

His  position  was  desperate,  and  they  judged,  and  rightly 
judged,  that  he  was  a  man  not  likely  to  stick  at  a  trifle. 

The  men  looked  at  their  officer,  and  the  latter,  a  man  of 
intelligence  and  prudence,  albeit  no  ccrtvard,  reflected 
seriously. 

Several  terrible  calamities,  accidental  and  intentional,  had 
of  late  opened  the  eyes  of  the  public  to  the  destructive 
properties  of  dynamite,  and  to  that  his  thoughts  flew. 

He  wavered. 

The  coiner  saw  his  chance,  and  quick  to  act  as  to  think, 
he  made  for  the  exit. 

"  Stand  back  !  "  he  cried,  fiercely,  to  the  men  who  made  a 
faint  show  of  barring  his  passage.  "  I'll  finish  you  all  off 
at  a  stroke  if  you  attempt  to  oppose  me  ?  " 

They  fell  back  alarmed. 

Lenoir  darted  on  through  the  inner  vault,  and  so  on  until 
he  gained  the  flight  of  steps. 

Reaching  the  top,  he  darted  through  the  cottage,  and 
reaching  the  open,  suddenly  found  himself  in  the  midst  of 
about  a  dozen  men. 

The  first  person  upon  whom  his  glance  rested,  was  the 
doubly-dyed  traitor  who  had  betrayed  him  solely  to  serve  his 
own  ends,  by  entrapping  Jack  Harkaway — the  Englishman, 
who  must  have  been  recognized  by  the  reader,  in  spite  of 
his  assumed  name,  as  Herbert  Murray. 

Instinctively  Lenoir  divined  that  his  betrayer  was  the 
young  Englishman. 

No  sooner  did  this  conclusion  force  itself  upon  him  than 
all  thought  of  personal  danger  vanished  from  his  mind,  and 
he  was  possessed  by  one  sole  idea,  one  single  desire. 
Revenge  ! 

He  lost  sight  of  the  peril  in  which  he  ran,  but  with  a  cry 
like  the  roar  of  a  wounded  lion  he  sprang  upon  the  traitor. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  195 

A  brawny,  powerful  fellow  was  Pierre  Lenoir,  and  Herbert 
Murray  was  but  a  puny  thing  in  his  grasp. 

"  Hands  off  !  "  exclaimed  Murray,  in  desperation. 

Lenoir  growled,  but  said  nothing,  as  he  shook  him  much 
as  a  terrier  does  a  rat. 

Before  the  police  could  interfere  in  the  spy's  behalf,  Le- 
noir held  him  with  one  hand  at  arm's  length,  while  with  the 
other  he  prepared  to  deliver  a  fearful  blow. 

The  en  erg}'  of  despair  seized  on  the  hapless  traitor,  and 
wrenching  himself  free  from  the  coiner's  grasp,  he  fled. 

Pierre  Lenoir  stood  staring  about  him  a  second. 

Then  he  made  after  him. 

Away  went  pursuer  and  pursued. 

The  terror-stricken  Murray  got  over  the  ground  like  a 
hare,  and  although  the  coiner  was  fleet  of  foot,  he  was  at 
first  distanced  in  the  race. 

It  became  a  desperate  race  between  them. 

Lenoir  tore  on. 

He  would  have  his  betrayer  now  or  perish. 

But  before  he  had  got  more  than  two  hundred  yards 
the  pace  began  to  tell  upon  him. 

He  felt  that  he  would  have  to  give  in. 

"  I  must  go  easier,  or  I  shall  fail  altogether." 

So  reasoning,  he  slackened  his  pace,  and  dropped  into 
that  slinging  trot  that  runners  in  France  know  as  the  pas 
gymnastique. 

If  your  strength  and  wind  are  of  average  quality,  you  can 
keep  up  for  a  prodigious  time  at  that. 

Murray  flew  on,  anxious  to  get  away  from  his  furious 
pursuer. 

He  increased  his  lead. 

But  presently  the  pace  told  upon  him  likewise. 

He  collected  his  thoughts  and  his  prudence  as  he  went, 
and  rested. 

Glancing  over  his  shoulder,  he  saw  Lenoir  come  bound- 
ing along,  a  considerable  distance  in  the  rear. 

"  Savage  beast !  "  thought  Murray.  "  He  means  mischief. 

Murray  meant  tiring  him  out. 

This,  however,  was  not  so  easily  done. 

The  Englishman  was  a  capital  runner,  and  had  been  one 
of  the  crack  men  of  his  school-club. 

But  \\isfortf  was  pace. 

The  Frenchman,  on  the  contrary,  was  a  stayer. 


196  YOUNG  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

It  looked  bad  for  Murray. 

On  they  went,  and  when  a  good  mile  had  been  covered, 
Murray,  on  glancing  back,  felt  convinced  that  it  was  only 
a  question  of  time. 

He  must  tire  out  the  Frenchman  in  the  end,  he  thought. 

He  believed  that  an  Englishman  must  always  be  more 
than  a  match  for  a  Frenchman  at  any  kind  of  athletics. 

He  reckoned  without  his  host,  for  while  he  (Murray)  was 
getting  blown,  Lenoir  swung  on  at  his  pasgymnastique,  hav- 
ing got  his  second  wind,  and  being,  to  all  appearance,  capable 
of  keeping  on  for  any  length  of  time. 

•'  I  shall  have  to  give  it  up,"  gasped  Murray,  when,  at  the 
end  of  the  second  mile,  he  looked  over  his  shoulder  again. 

An  unpleasant  fact  revealed  itself. 

While  he  was  faltering,  the  Frenchman  was  rather  im- 
proving his  pace. 

Yes. 

The  distance  between  them  was  lessening. 

And  now  he  could  hear  Lenoir's  menaces  quite  plainly  as 
the  coiner  gained  upon  him. 

"  I  shall  have  you  directly,  and  I  shall  beat  your  skull 
in  ! "  the  Frenchman  said. 

Murray's  craven  heart  leapt  to  his  mouth. 

Already  he  felt  as  if  his  cranium  was  cracked  by  the  brutal 
fist  of  the  savage  coiner. 

Fear  lent  him  wings. 

He  put  on  a  spurt. 

"  Oh,  if  I  had  but  a  pistol,"  thought  Murray  ;  "  what  a  fool 
I  was  to  come  unarmed  on  such  a  job  as  this." 

He  partially  flagged  again. 

The  distance  between  them  was  still  decreasing. 

This  he  felt  was  the  beginning  of  the  end,  but  just  as  he 
was  thinking  that  there  was  nothing  for  it  but  to  turn  and 
make  the  best  fight  for  it  he  could,  he  sighted  a  roadside  inn 
— a  rural  auberge. 

And  for  this  he  flew  with  renewed  energy. 

Dashing  into  the  house,  he  pushed  to  the  door  and  startled 
the  aubergiste  by  gasping  out  in  the  best  French  he  could 
command — 

"  Un  assassin  me  poursuit.  Cachez-moi,  ou  donnez-moi  de 
yuoi  me  defendre  /"  * 

*  "  I  am  pursued  by  an  assassin.  Hide  me,  or  give  me  something  to 
defend  myself  with." 


If  IS  BOY  TINKER. 


19.7 


The  landlord  took  Murray—  and  not  unnaturally—  for  a 
madman. 

He  did  not  like  the  society  of  madmen. 

To  give  a  weapon  to  a  funous  maniac  was  out  of  all  ques- 
tion. 

And  the  landlord  had  nothing  handy  of  a  more  deadly 
nature  than  a  knife  and  fork. 

Moreover,  he  would  not  have  cared  to  place  a  dangerous 
weapon  in  a  madman's  hands. 

So  he  met  the  case  by  humouring  the  fugitive  with  a  pro- 
posal to  go  up  stairs. 

Murray  wanted  no  second  invitation. 

Up  he  flew,  and  locked  himself  in  one  of  the  upper  rooms 
just  as  Lenoir  hammered  at  the  door  below. 

"  Oit  est-ilf  "  *  demanded  the  coiner,  fiercely. 


"  Ne  cherchcz  pas  £  me  truhtr"  thundered  Lenoir.  **  H 
m'appartifnt.  Oil  est-il,jc  tvus  le  demand*  ?  "  t 

The  coiner's  manner  made  the  aubergiste  uneasy,  and 
thoughtful  for  his  own  safety. 

So  he  pointed  up  stairs. 

Up  went  Lenoir,  and  finding  a  room  door  locked,  he  flung 
his  whole  weight  against  the  door  and  sent  it  in. 

This  was  the  room  which  the  fugitive  had  entered, 

But  where  was  Murray  ? 

Gone! 

Vanished  I 


CHAPTER  XCIV. 

THE  COINER  AND  THE  SPY — A  REGULAR  DUST-UP,  ANT)  WHAT 
CAME  OF  IT — THE  CHASE — AN  ODD  ESCAPE — HUNTING  IN 
THE  HAY — A  ROUGH  CUSTOMER  DONE  FOR. 

WHEN  Lenoir  had  puzzled  himself  for  some  time  over  the 
mysterious  disappearance  of  Herbert  Murray,  he  made  a 
discovery. 

•"Where  is  he?"  t"Who?" 

|  "  Seek  not  to  deceive  me,"  thundered  Lenoir.  "  He  belongs  to  me, 
Where  is  be,  I  ask  you  again?" 


198  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

The  window  was  open,  a  circumstance  which  he  had  until 
then,  in  the  most  unaccountable  manner  imaginable,  over- 
looked. 

But  when  he  got  to  the  window  and  looked  out,  there  were 
no  signs  of  the  object  of  his  search. 

He  had  followed  so  sharply  that  Murray  could  not  have 
had  time  to  get  off. 

He  looked  up  and  down  the  road  eagerly. 

The  only  thing  in  sight  was  a  wagon-load  of  hay  drawn 
by  a  team  of  horses,  at  whose  head  plodded  a  waggoner  in 
a  blue  cotton  blouse,  whip  in  hand. 

"£K,  la-bas /"  shouted  the  coiner  from  the  window. 

The  waggoner  turned  and  looked  eagerly  up. 

"  Qifavcz-vous  ?  "  demanded  the  waggoner.  "  What's  the 
matter  ? " 

"  Have  you  seen  anyone  jump  out  of  window  ?  "  shouted 
Lenoir. 

The  waggoner  responded  tartly,  for  he  fancied  that  his 
questioner  was  trying  to  chaff  him. 

"  I've  seen  no  one  mad  enough  for  that ;  in  fact  I've  seen 
no  one  madder  than  you  since  I've  been  in  this  j/j./t  of  the 
country." 

"  Especede  voyou!  "  cried  the  irritable  Lenoir,  "  je  te  fiche- 
rais  une  danse  si  f  avals  le  temps  pour  fapprendtt  ce  queerest 
que  la  politesse.  I'd  dust  your  jacket  for  you  if  I  had  the 
time  to  teach  you  politeness." 

"  You're  not  likely  to  have  time  enough  for  that,  as  long 
as  you  live,  esptce  de  pignouf" 

"  Idiot !  " 

"Inibteiltl" 

This  interchange  of  compliments  appeared  to  relieve  the 
belligerent  parties  considerably. 

Lenoir  was  obliged  to  give  it  up  for  a  bad  job. 

Suddenly  a  singular  idea  shot  into  his  head. 

The  hay  cart ! 

What  if  Herbert  Murray  had  got  into  it  unseen  and  was 
there  now,  without  his  presence  being  suspected  by  the  wag- 
goner ? 

Lenoir  reflected  for  a  moment. 

Then  he  darted  down  the  stairs  in  pursuit  of  the  waggon. 

"  Hullo,  there,  driver  ! "  he  shouted. 

The  waggoner  looked  over  his  shoulder  and  recognised 
Lenoir. 


HIS  BOY  TIXKEJL 


So  be  whipped  op. 

The  best  pace  that  even  a  stout  tarn  of  horses  could  pot 
on,  with  a  big  load  of  ha j  behind  them  was  not  to  say  race* 


On  came  Lenoir. 

-  I  say,  my  friend,"  he  called  out,  "I  dunk  yon  have  a 
man  concealed  in  die  cart!" 

-  Va-t-em  /—get  out!"  retorted  die  waggoner. 

I  am  serious.    Wffi  yon  oblige  me  by  pulling  up  and 


Xot  ejEacdy." 

Lenoir  had  a  very  limited  stock  of  patience,  and  he  soon 
came  to  the  end  of  h. 

He  ran  to  the  leading  horse  and  palled  it  op  sharply. 

The  waggoner  swore  and  la^tu**i  up, 

Bat  TifffE*"*,  f  •••"•>  ||iy  attention  next  to  the  $haff  horse, 
palled  the  waggon  up  to  a  «=t*iMterin 

And  die  waggoner,  furious  at  dus,  lashed  Lenoir. 

The  whip  caught  him  round  die  head  and  shoulders,  oni- 


ing  aboat 
Lenoir 


aboat  so  that  the  man  could  not  get  it  free, 
and   w 


caught  at  die  thong,  and  widi  a  sodden  jerk. 
Drought  the  waggoner  down  from  his  seat. 

Now  began  as  pretty  a  little  skirmish  as  you  could  wish 
::  _=tt. 

The  waggoner  fell  an  easy  prey  to  die  furious  coiner  at 
first. 

He  was  haltdazed  with  being  jerked  down  totheground. 

But  he  soon  recovered  himself 

Then  he  set  to  punching  at  Lenoir  widi  all  his  strength. 

Then  diey  grappled  fiercely  **&  each  other. 

A  desperate  struggle  for  supremacy  ensued. 

At  length  Lenoir's  superior  strength  and  science  prevailed, 
lDiu.li  as  die  waggoner  was. 

The  latter  lay  under  die  coiner,  whose  knee  pressed  cruelly 


"  Now  ask  my  pardon,"  said  Lenoir. 

-  Never !"  roared  die  defeated 

-I  shall  kiU  you  if  yon  don't,"  said  Lenoir/ 


"Mmd 


don't  get  finished  off  first,"  said  the  waggocer 


200  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

As  he  spoke,  he  was  looking  up  over  his  conqueror's 
shoulder. 

Lenoir  perceived  this,  but  thought  it  only  a  ruse  to  get 
him  to  shift  his  hold. 

So,  with  a  contemptuous  smile,  he  raised  his  clenched  fist 
to  deal  the  luckless  waggoner  a  blow  that  was  to  knock  every 
scrap  of  sense  out  of  his  unfortunate  cranium. 

"  Take  that !  " 

But  before  the  waggoner  could  get  it,  Lenoir  received 
something  himself  that  sent  him  to  earth  with  a  hollow  groan 
— felled  like  a  bullock  beneath  the  butcher's  pole-axe. 

Somebody  had  after  all  been  concealed  in  the  waggon. 

That  somebody  was  Herbert  Murray  himself. 

The  English  youth  had  heard  the  scuffle,  and  seeing  his 
opportunity,  he  slid  out  of  his  place  of  concealment  and 
joined  in  the  fight  at  the  very  right  moment. 

****** 

The  waggoner  shook  himself  together. 

"  That  was  neatly  done,  camarade"  he  said. 

"  I  was  just  in  time,"  said  Murray ;  "  look  after  him.  He 
is  wanted  by  the  police  ;  a  desperate  customer.  They  are 
after  him  now." 

"  He's  very  quiet,"  said  the  waggoner,  with  a  curious 
glance. 

"  He's  not  dead,"  returned  Murray ;  "  he  has  his  destiny 
to  fulfil  yet." 

"  What  may  that  be  ? " 

"  The  galleys,"  was  the  reply. 

The  waggoner  stared  hard  at  young  Murray. 

"  I  don't  like  the  look  of  you  much  more  than  that  of  the 
beast  lying  there,"  he  thought  to  himself ;  "  mind  you  don't 
keep  him  company  in  the  galleys." 

An  odd  fancy  to  cross  a  stranger's  mind. 

Was  it  prophetic  ? 


HIS  BOY  T1XKER. 


CHAPTER  XCV, 

PLANS     FOR    OUR    FRIENDS*    RELEASE — MURRAY'S      COUNTER- 
PLOT— THE    LETTER,    AND     HOW    IT    WAS     INTERCEPTED 

HERBERT  MURRAY   TRIUMPHS — CHIVEY  WORKS  THE  ARTFUL 
DODGE. 

"  WELL,"  exclaimed  the  unfortunate  Mole,  "  this  is  a  nice 
go!" 

**  I'm  glad  you  think  it  nice,"  said  young  Jack,  bitterly. 

As  they  spoke,  they  were  being  led  through  the  streets  of 
Marseilles,  handcuffed  and  two  abreast,  with  a  brace  of 
gendarmes  between  each  couple. 

The  people  flocked  out  to  stare  at  the  "  notorious  gang  of 
forgers,  which  " — so  rang  the  report — **  had  just  been  cap- 
tured by  the  police,  after  making  a  desperate  resistance." 

The  first  impulse  of  Jack  Harkaway  himself  had  been 
naturally  to  resist  his  captors. 

But  he  was  speedily  shown  the  uselessness  of  such  a 
course. 

When  they  were  brought  up  before  the  judge  for  examina- 
tion, they  protested  their  innocence,  and  told  the  simple 
truth. 

But  this  did  not  avail  them. 

Herbert  Murray  had  prepared  the  way  for  their  statements 
to  be  regarded  as  falsehoods. 

By  this  means,  when  Jack  protested  that  his  name  was 
Harkaway,  it  went  clearly  against  him,  inasmuch  as  it  cor- 
roborated what  Murray  had  said. 

So  they  were  remanded,  one  and  all,  and  sent  back  to  the 
cells. 

Mr.  Mole's  indignation  could  not  be  subdued. 

"  These  people  are  worse  than  savages ! "  he  exclaimed ; 
"but  well  let  them  know.  They  shall  make  us  ample 
reparation  for  this  indignity." 

He  talked  threateningly  of  the  British  ambassador,  and 
made  all  kinds  of  threats. 

But  he  was  poohpoohed  by  the  authorities. 

Harry  Girdwood  was  the  only  one  of  the  party  who  kept 
his  coolness. 


202  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

He  put  forth  his  request  with  so  much  earnestness,  to  be 
allowed  to  see  the  English  consul,  that  his  request  was 
granted  at  once. 

He  drew  up  a  letter  and  entrusted  it  to  the  gaoler,  who 
promised  to  have  it  forwarded. 

Now  this  became  known  to  Herbert  Murray,  and  he  then 
saw  that  he  had  still  a  task  of  no  ordinary  difficulty  before 
him — that  it  was  not  sufficient  alone  to  have  his  hated 
enemies  arrested. 

The  greater  difficulty  by  far  was  to  keep  them  now  that  he 
had  secured  them. 

In  this  crisis  he  once  more  consulted  with  his  worthless 
servant  and  confederate,  Chivey. 

"  Our  next  job,"  said  Chivey,  doubtfully,  "  is  to  get  at  the 
gaoler,  and  stop  the  letter  he  has  received  from  reaching  its 
destination." 

"  How  would  you  set  to  work  ?  "  demanded  his  master. 

"  You  do  what  you  can  inside,"  said  Chivey,  "  and  I'll  lay 
in  wait  for  the  messenger  with  the  letter  outside  in  case  you 
fail." 

Good." 

"  You  can  buy  that  gaoler,"  said  the  tiger. 
"  I  will." 

"  Do  so.  Your  task  is  the  easier  of  the  two.  Ten  francs 
ought  to  square  him." 

"  It  ought,"  said  Murray ;  "  but  I  question  if  it  will." 


Murray  was  doomed  to  a  sad  disappointment  in  his 
operations,  for  do  what  he  would,  he  could  not  "  get  at "  the 
man  charged  with  delivering  the  Harkaways'  letters. 

But  he  contrived  to  ascertain  who  the  man  was,  and  to 
give  a  description  of  him  to  the  tiger. 

Chivey  saw  the  man  come  out  of  the  prison,  and  he 
thought  over  various  plans  for  getting  hold  of  the  letter 
which  he  knew  that  he  must  be  carrying. 

His  first  idea  was  to  go  up  to  him  and  address  him 
Straight  off  upon  the  subject ;  but  this  would  not  do. 

The  messenger  would  in  all  probability  take  the  alarm. 

He  next  had  an  idea  of  following  up  the  messenger,  and 
after  giving  him  a  crack  on  the  head,  rifling  his  pockets. 

This  idea  he  abandoned  even  sooner  than  the  first,  and 
this  for  sundry  wholesome  reasons. 


HIS  BOY  TIXKER. 

Firstly,  the  man's  road  did  not  lead  him  into  any 
dendy  quiet  places  for  such  an  attempt. 

Secondly,  the  man  was  a  tough-looking  customer,  and  an 
awkward  fellow  to  tackle. 

And  thirdly — but  the  second  reason  sufficed  to  scad 
Chivey's  mind  away  from  all  ideas  of  violence. 

No ;  deeds  of  daring  were  not  at  all  in  Chivey's  line. 

He  had  a  notion,  however,  and  this  was  to  go  as  fast  as 
be  could  to  the  British  consul's,  and  there  to  be  ready  for 
the  messenger  when  he  came. 

His  plans  were  not  more  matured  than  this :  but  chance 
seemed  to  very  much  favour  this  precious  pair  of  youthful 
scamps — for  the  time  being,  at  any  rate. 


Chivey  timed  his  own  arrival  at  the  consuFs  ""^ilfiiCTt  so 
as  to  be  there  just  a  few  minutes  in  advance  of  the  prison 


The  servant  who  aHmiftH  him  was  an  Englishman,  and 
told  Chivey  that  his  master  was  particularly  engaged  just 
then,  and  would  not  be  visible  for  some  considerable  time. 

~  Be  so  good  as  to  ask  when  I  can  see  your  master,"  said 
Chivey,  with  an  air  of  lofty  condescension. 

M I  must  not  disturb  him  now,"  said  the  servant. 

*  He  will  be  very  vexed  with  yon  if  yon  don't,"  returned 
Chivey,  "  when  be  knows  my  business.'' 

The  servant  being  only  impressed  with  this  threat,  went 
off  at  once  to  obey  the  insidious  tiger,  who  of  course  was  not 
in  livery. 

Barely  had  the  consul's  servant  disappeared,  when  the 
messenger  from  the  prison  entered. 

Chivey  recognised  him  iii'iliirtlj. 

"  Ume  lettre  pour  Monsifxr  k  CensuLT  said  the  mt  Mi  iigu. 

Chivey  held  out  his  hand,  and  the  man,  taking  it  for 
granted  that  Chivey  belonged  to  the  consular  establishment, 
gave  it  to  him. 

**  I7j  a  *xe  rtpaue— there  is  an  answer,"  said  the  mes- 
senger. 

-  It  win  be  forwarded,*  returned  Chivey,  with  cool  pres- 
ence of  mind. 

"  I  ought  to  take  it  with  me,"  said  the  messenger. 
u  I  can't  disturb  his  excellency  now,"  replied  the  tiger ; 
"  those  are  my  master's  express  orders,  which  I  can't  presume 


2  04  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

to  disobey.  He  will  send  the  answer  on  immediately  it  is 
ready." 

The  man  paused. 

"The  consul  was  expecting  this  letter,"  said  Chivey, 
moving  towards  the  door,  "  and  he  told  me  particularly  that 
he  would  send  the  answer  on." 

"  Puisqu^il  est  ainsi"  said  the  man,  dubiously.  "  Since  it 
must  be  so,  I  suppose  I  had  better  leave  the  letter." 

"Of  course  you  had,"  returned  Chivey,  closing  the  door. 
"  I  daresay  you  will  get  the  answer  within  an  hour." 

At  that  very  moment  the  servant  returned  with  a  message 
from  the  consul  to  the  effect  that  in  half  an  hour  he  could 
be  seen,  if  the  applicant  would  call  again. 

"Very  good,"  said  Chivey,  in  the  same  patronising 
manner ,  "  you  may  tell  your  master  that  I  will  look  back 
later  on." 

"Very  well,  sir." 

Chivey  walked  out,  chuckling  inwardly  at  the  success  of 
his  mission. 

"What  could  be  easier?"  said  the  Cockney  scamp  to 
himself ;  "  shelling  peas  is  a  fool  to  it." 

But  before  he  could  get  fairly  over  the  threshold,  the 
servant  stopped  him  with  a  question  that  startled  him  a 
little,  and  well-nigh  made  him  lose  his  presence  of  mind. 

"  The  man  who  called  just  now,  sir,  he  left  a  letter." 

"Eh?    Oh,  yes!" 

"  For  you,  sir  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  added  Chivey  with  the  coolest  effrontery.  "  My 
servant  knew  that  I  had  come  on  here ;  thinking  to  be  de- 
tained some  time  with  his  excellency  the  consul,  I  left  word 
at  my  hotel  where  I  was  coming,  and  he  followed  me  here 
with  a  letter." 

"Oh,  I  see,  sir,"  returned  the  servant,  obsequiously, 
"  quite  so,  sir,  beg  pardon,  sir." 

"  Not  at  all,  my  good  man,  not  at  all,"  returned  Chivey, 
superciliously ;  "  you  are  a  very  civil,  well-spoken  young 
man — here  is  a  trifle  for  you." 

He  passed  the  servant  a  large  silver  coin,  and  walked  on. 

The  servant  bowed  again  and  examined  the  coin,  in  the 
process  of  bobbing  his  head. 

**  Five  francs,"  said  the  consul's  servant,  to  himself ;  "  he's 
a  real  swell,  anyone  can  see." 

One  word  more. 


ffIS  BOY  TINKER.  205 

The  five-franc  piece  which  had  in  no  slight  degree  biassed 
the  servant's  opinion  of  the  visitor,  was  one  of  Pierre 
Lenoir's  admirable  manufacture. 


u  Let's  have  a  look  at  the  letter,  Chivey,"  said  Herbert 
Murray,  as  soon  as  his  servant  got  back. 

But  Chivey  seemed  to  hesitate. 

"  Come,  come,"  said  Murray,  "  we  shall  not  quarrel  about 
the  terms." 

"  We  oughnt't  to,"  returned  the  tiger,  "  for  it's  worth  a 
Jew's  eye." 

Murray  tore  the  letter  open  and  read  it  down  eagerly. 

As  it  throws  some  additional  light  upon  the  actual  state 
of  affairs  with  the  Harkaway  party,  possibly  it  may  be  as 
well  to  give  the  letter  of  young  Jack  to  the  consul  verbatim. 

It  was  dated  from  the  prison. 

"  SIR, — I  wish  to  solicit  your  immediate  assistance  in  get- 
ting released  from  the  above  uncomfortable  premises,  where, 
in  company  with  a  party  of  friends  and  fellow-travellers,  I 
have  been  by  a  singular  accident  carried  by  the  police. 
From  scraps  of  information  I  have  gained  while  here,  I  be- 
lieve I  am  correct  in  asserting  that  we  have  fallen  into  a 
trap,  cunningly  prepared  for  us  by  an  unscrupulous  fellow- 
countryman  of  ours,  who  has  cogent  reasons  for  wishing  us 
out  of  the  way,  and  has  accordingly  caused  me  and  my 
friends  to  be  arrested  as  comers.  The  person  in  question  is 
named  Herbert  Murray,  but  I  am  unable  to  say  under  what 
alias  he  is  at  present  known  in  this  part  of  the  world.  I 
mention  this  that  you  may  be  able  to  keep  an  eye  upon  the 
individual  pending  our  release  on  bail,  for  I  presume  that 
bail  is  a  French  institution.  My  signature  will  serve  you 
for  reference  on  me,  as  it  may  readily  be  identified  at  my 
father's  bankers  here,  Messrs.  B.  Fould  &  Co. 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"JACK  HARKAWAY." 

Herbert  Murray  pursed  his  brows  as  he  read  on. 

a  What  do  you  think  of  that  ? "  demanded  Chivey. 

"  Queer ! " 

"  Precious  queer." 

*'  The  one  lesson  to  be  learnt  from  h,  Chivey,"  said  his 


206  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

master,  "  is  to  stop  all  correspondence  between  the  prisoners 
and  the  consul." 

"  And  push  forward  the  trial  as  much  as  possible." 

"  Yes,  and  get  together  as  many  reliable  witnesses  as  we 
can " 

"  Buy  them  at  a  pound  apiece,"  concluded  Chivey. 

"  Right,"  said  Herbert  Murray,  with  a  mischievous  grin  ; 
0  forewarned,  forearmed  ;  we  hold  them  now  and  we'll  keep 
them " 

"  Please  the  pigs,"  concluded  Chivey  fervently. 


CHAPTER  XCVI. 

OUR   FRIENDS   IN   DURANCE   VILE — A   STROKE   FOR    LIBERTY — 

THE    PRISONERS'     PLOT — MOLE    is    PRESCRIBED    FOR — A 

FRIEND     IN     NEED — HOPES   AND     MISGIVINGS — "  OLD    WET 
BLANKET." 

"  IT'S  very  odd." 

"Very." 

"  And  scarcely  polite,"  suggested  Mr.  Mole. 

"Well,  scarcely." 

"  That  makes  the  fourth  letter  I  have  written  to  him,  and 
he  doesn't  even  condescend  to  notice  them." 

"Very  odd." 

"  Very." 

But  while  all  the  sufferers  by  the  seeming  neglect  of  the 
consul  were  expressing  themselves  so  freely  in  the  matter, 
old  Sobersides,  as  Jack  called  his  comrade,  Harry  Girdwood, 
remained  silent  and  meditative. 

Jack  had  great  faith  in  his  thoughtful  chum. 

"  A  penny  for  your  thoughts,  Harry,"  said  he. 

"  I'll  give  them  for  nix,"  returned  Harry  Girdwood,  gaily. 

"  Out  with  it." 

"  1  was  wondering  whether,  while  you  are  all  blaming  the 
poor  consul,  he  has  ever  received  your  letters." 

"What,  the  four?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Of  course." 

"  I  don't  see  it." 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  207 

"  But,  my  dear  fellow,  consider.  One  may  have  miscar- 
ried— or  two — but  hang  it !  all  four  can't  have  gone  wrong." 

"  Of  course  not,"  said  Mole,  with  the  air  of  a  man  who 
puts  a  final  stop  to  all  arguments. 

"  There  I  beg  leave  to  differ  with  you  all." 

"Why?  " 

u  The  letters  have  not  reached  the  consul,  perhaps ;  they 
may  have  been  intercepted." 

"  By  whom  ?  "  was  Jack's  natural  question. 

"  Can't  say  positively ;  possibly  by  Murray." 

"Is  it  likely?" 

"Is  it  not?" 

"  I  don't  see,  unless  he  bought  over  the  messenger," 

"  And  what  is  more  likely  than  that  ? "  said  Harry.  «*  And 
if  they  have  bought  over  one  messenger,  it  is  for  good  and 
all,  not  for  a  single  letter,  but  for  every  scrap  of  paper  you 
may  send  out  of  the  prison,  you  may  depend  upon  it" 

This  simple  reasoning  struck  his  hearers. 

"  Upon  my  life ! "  exclaimed  Jack,  "  I  believe  Harry's 
right  We  must  tackle  the  governor." 

"  So  I  think." 

"  And  I  too,"  added  Harry  Girdwood ;  "  but  how?  " 

**  I'll  write  him  a  letter." 

"  Yes ;  and  send  it  to  him  by  the  gaoler,"  said  Harry. 

"Yes." 

"The  gaoler  who  carried  all  the  other  letters?  Why, 
Jack,  Jack,  what  a  thoughtless,  rattlebrained  chap  you  are. 
What  on  earth  is  the  use  of  such  a  move  as  that  ?  " 

Jack's  countenance  fell  again  at  this. 

"  You're  right,  Harry.  I  go  jumping  like  a  bull  at  a  gate 
as  usual.  What  would  you  do  ? " 

Harry's  answer  was  brief  and  sententious. 

"Think." 

"  Do  so,  mate,"  returned  Jack,  hopefully  again ;  "  do  so." 

"  I  will" 

He  pressed  his  lips  and  knit  his  brows  with  a  burlesque, 
melodramatic  air,  and  strode  up  and  down,  with  his  fore- 
finger to  his  forehead. 

He  stopped  suddenly  and  stamped  twice,  as  a  haughty 
earl  might  do  in  a  transpontine  tragedy  when  resolving  upon 
his  crowning  villany,  and  exclaimed  in  a  voice  suggestive  of 
fiend-like  triumph — 

« I  have  it" 


2  08  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"  Hold  it  tight,  then." 

"  One  of  us  must  sham  ill  so  as  to  get  the  doctor  here. 
Once  he's  here,  we  shall  be  all  right." 

"  Hurrah  !  "  cried  Jack  Harkaway ;  "  that's  the  notion. 
We  shall  yet  defeat  the  schemes  of  that  incarnate  fiend, 
Murray." 

"That  is  a  capital  idea,"  said  Mr.  Mole.  "You  have 
>uggested  quite  a  new  idea." 

"  Now  stop ;  the  next  thing  for  us  to  think  of  is  who  is  to 
oe  the  sham  invalid,"  said  Jack. 

"  I  would  suggest  Tinker,"  said  Harry. 

"  Or  Bogey,"  observed  Mr.  Mole. 

"Why?"  ' 

"  Because  it  would  not  be  easy  to  tell  whether  they  looked 
in  delicate  health  or  not." 

"  There's  something  in  that,"  said  Jack,  "  but  there's  this 
to  say  against  it." 

"  What  ? " 

"  They  might  not  be  able  to  keep  the  game  up  so  well  as 
one  of  ourselves,  so  I  think " 

Here  Jack  paused,  whilst  Harry  and  he  exchanged  a 
meaning  wink  unobserved  by  the  old  gentleman. 

"  I  think  that  it  ought  to  be  Mr.  Mole,"  continued  our 
hero. 

"  Why  ?  " 

"  Why,  sir ;  can  you  ask  why  ?  You  are  such  a  lovely 
shammer." 

"  Come,  I  say,"  began  Mr.  Mole,  scarcely  relishing  it. 

"  He's  quite  right,  sir,"  said  Harry  Girdwood,  "  you  are 
inimitable  as  a  shammer." 

"I?" 

"  You  can  pitch  it  so  strong,  Mr.  Mole,"  said  Jack. 

"  And  so  natural,"  added  Harry  Girdwood. 

"  Life-like,"  said  the  two  together,  in  mingled  tones  of  rapt 
admiration. 

Mr.  Mole  was  but  human. 

Humanity  is  but  frail,  and  ever  open  to  the  voice  of 
flattery. 

What  could  Mole  do  but  yield  ? 

Nothing. 

He  gave  in,  and  shammed  very  ill  indeed. 

Well,  the  result  of  this  was  that  the  gaoler  made  his  report, 
and  the  doctor  came. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER. 


209 


«/V  quoi  x  plaixt-at"  demanded  the  doctor,  as  be  en- 
teredthecdL 

"What  does  be  say?"  asked  Mole;  "I'm  as  deaf  as  an 
adder." 

*-The  doctor  asks  what  you  complain  of  ?  "  said  Jack,  in  a 
very  loud  voice. 

"  Oh,  any  thing  he  likes,"  returned  Mole,  impatiently. 

They  were  on  the  point  of  bursting  out  laughing  at  this, 
when  the  doctor  startled  them  considerably  by  saying  in 
broken  (but  understandable)  English — 

a  What  he  say— any  thing  I  like  ?    Suigulitr!" 

"Ahem!" 

Harry  Gird  wood  gave  the  word ;  a  glance  of  intelligence 
went  round. 

They,  to  use  Jack's  expression,  pulled  themselves  to- 
gether, and  looked  serious. 

"It  is  headache,"  said  Jack.  "Violent  headache,  he 
says." 

44  Yes,"  said  Mole. 

"  Show  your  tongue." 

Mole  thrust  it  out,  and  then  the  doctor  felt  his  poise. 

«  Very  bad ;  you  have  the  fever." 

M What?"  ejaculated  Mole,  aghast. 

"You  have  the  fever." 

•What  sort?" 

The  surgeon  looked  puzzled. 

"  Typhus  or  scarlet,  I  should  say,"  suggested  Jack. 

*  What  is  that  ?  "  demanded  the  French  doctor,  curiously. 
*Je  ne  ruis  pas  ires  fort — I  am  not  very  strong  in  English." 

"Then,  sir,"  said  Jack,  "pray  accept  my  compliments 

»n  your  proficiency ;  it  is  really  very  remarkable." 

"  Yon  are  very  good  to  say  that,"  returned  the  surgeon; 
"  mats — now  for  our  maladc — what  is  malade  in  English  ?  " 

"Patient." 

"  Patient!  Well,  I  hope  that  he  wfll  justify  ze  designa- 
tion. What  do  you  fed  ?  "  he  added  to  Mr.  Mole. 

"Rush  of  blood  to  the  head,"  said  Mote,  thinking  this 
quite  a  safe  symptom  to  announce. 

"Yes,  yes— sorts  douk—vo  doubt,"  said  the  doctor,  look- 
ing as  wise  as  an  owL  "  We  can  make  that  better  for  you 

^Tnrfs^aT^Sl  a  mustard  plaister,  isnt  k?»  said 
Harry. 
14 


2 1 0  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"  Sinapisme — mustard  who  ? "  demanded  the  French  doctor 
of  Jack. 

"  Plaister." 

"  Merct." 

"  I'm  not  going  to  have  any  mustard  plaister  on,"  said 
Mole. 

"Comment!"  exclaimed  the  doctor;  "tfn'fn  veut pas !  he 
will  not !  Morbleu !  Ze  prisonniers  have  what  ze  docteur 
ordonnances." 

«  Will  he  ? " 

"  Yes.  You  are  quite  right,  doctor,"  said  Jack,  in  French. 
"  Where  is  he  to  have  on  the  plaister  ? " 

"On  his  legs,  at  the  back  of  his  ankles,"  replied  the 
doctor ;  "  it  is  to  draw  the  blood  from  his  head." 

"  Very  good,  sir." 

Jack  translated,  and  the  patient  singularly  enough  grew 
reassured  immediately. 

"  It  won't  hurt  much  on  the  back  of  your  legs,  Mr.  Mole," 
said  Harry. 

They  enjoyed  a  quiet  grin  to  themselves  at  this. 

The  prison  doctor  then  sent  the  gaoler  for  writing  materials 
for  the  purpose  of  writing  out  a  prescription. 

Then  was  their  chance. 

"  Doctor,"  said  Jack,  "  I  want  to  see  the  governor." 

"  Why  have  you  not  asked,  then,  through  the  gaoler  ? " 

"  I  prefer  some  other  method." 

"Why?" 

"  Because  I  don't  know  whether  the  gaoler  is  safe." 

"  I  don't  understand  you,"  said  the  doctor. 

"  I  have  written  four  letters  to  the  British  consul,"  returned 
Jack,  "and  no  answer  has  come." 

"Well?" 

"  Well,  sir,  I  am  afraid  he  has  never  received  the  letters." 

"Why?" 

"  Because  my  name  is  well  known  to  him,  and  he  would 
have  replied.  I  have  referred  him  to  the  chief  banker  of 
the  town,  who  can  readily  identify  me  through  my  signature. 
I  wish  them  to  communicate  with  my  father,  and,  in  a  word, 
to  show  the  authorities  how  utterly  ridiculous  and  preposter- 
ous is  the  charge  against  us  in  spite  of  appearances." 

Jack's  earnestness  caught  his  attention. 

"They  would  never  dare  to  keep  letters  back." 

"  Money  has  tempted  them,  I  feel  assured. " 


ffJS  BOY  TINKER.  211 

"Whose  money?" 

"  The  money  of  a  spy — a  fellow-countryman  of  ours,  who 
has  interest  in  keeping  me  out  of  the  way." 

"  His  name  ?  " 

"  His  real  name  is  Herbert  Murray,  his  assumed  name  is 
Markby." 

"  Markby ;  I  know  that  name.  Of  course ;  he  is  the  prin- 
cipal witness  against  you.  You  say  his  assumed  name  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Can  you  prove  it  ?  " 

"  Easily ;  if  I  can  get  at  the  means  of  establishing  a  de- 
fence. It  is  to  effect  this,  that  I  have  addressed  myself  to 
the  consul,  but  he  does  not  reply,  so  that,  monstrous  and 
absurd  as  this  charge  is,  we  are  unable  to  disprove  it,  simply 
because  here  we  are  tied  hand  and  foot" 

"  This  is  very  strange." 

The  doctor,  as  he  spoke,  shot  them  a  dubious  glance, 
which  did  not  escape  Jack. 

"  I  tell  you,  sir,  that  my  father  is  rich  and  influential. 
Moreover,  he  is  exceedingly  liberal  in  money  matters  with 
me.  I  have  not  the  slightest  need  to  add  to  my  income  by 
any  means  whatever,  much  less  dishonest  courses." 

"  What  proof  can  I  offer  to  the  governor  ?  " 

"  Plenty,"  returned  Jack,  eagerly.  "  Here  is  my  father's 
address  in  England ;  let  him  be  communicated  with  imme- 
diately. This  Markby  is  an  unscrupulous  rascal.  He  has 
forged  my  name  to  several  cheques,  and  robbed  me.  He 
fears  detection,  and  has  built  up  a  cunning  plot,  using  the 
coiner,  Lenoir,  as  his  cat'spaw,  and  while  we  are  caged  here 
upon  this  ridiculous  charge,  he  can  get  off  to  another  part 
of  the  world." 

This  convinced  the  prison  surgeon  completely. 

"  I  will  see  the  governor  at  once,"  said  he  ;  "  meanwhile, 
see  that  your  obstinate  old  friend  attends  to  my  instructions, 
and  he  will  soon  be  well." 

"  Excuse  me,  doctor,"  said  Jack,  "  but  the  honest  truth  is 
that  he  is  not  ill  at  all." 

"  Not  ill !  " 

"No.  We  doubted  the  gaoler's  honesty,  and,  fearing  he 
was  bought  over  by  our  enemy,  adopted  this  ruse." 

"  To  see  me  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Ha,  ha !     I  see  it  all  now ;  very  ingenious  on  your  part. 


212  yO  UNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

Well,  well,  my  young  friend,  I  will  see  the  governor  at  once, 
and  you  shall  not  be  long  in  trouble." 

"  You  will  earn  my  eternal  gratitude,  and  that  of  my  fellow- 
prisoners,  as  well  as  the  much  more  substantial  acknowledg- 
ment of  my  father." 

"  JSien,  bien"  said  the  surgeon  smiling.     "  Au  revoir/" 
And  bowing  pleasantly  to  the   prisoners   generally,    the 
doctor  left  the  cell. 

****** 

"  There."  said  Jack.  "  You  may  look  upon  that  as  settled, 
so  comfort  yourselves." 

"  He  has  gone  to  the  governor  ?  "  asked  Mole. 

"Yes." 

"Hurrah!" 

"  I  hope  it  will  go  all  right  now,"  said  Harry  Girdwood, 
who  was  scarcely  so  cheerful  as  his  companions. 

"  You  wretched  old  wet  blanket ! "  exclaimed  Jack,  gaily. 
"  of  course  it  will." 

"  Of  course,"  added  Mole. 

"  You  may  consider  yourself  as  good  as  outside  the 
prison  already." 

"  I  do,  for  one,"  said  Mole,  quite  hilarious  at  the  prospect. 

"  Humph  !  "  said  Harry. 


CHAPTER   XCVII. 

THE    DOCTOR   AND    THE    GOVERNOR — HOW    THE     PLOT    WORKS 
IN    FAVOUR   OF   JACK'S    ENEMIES — UNLUCKY    PRISONERS  I 

"  Sapristi!  " 

Thus  spake  the  governor  of  the  prison. 

The  occasion  was  within  a  few  minutes  of  the  doctor's 
entrance  into  his  private  cabinet,  to  which  the  medico  had 
gone  immediately  after  quitting  the  English-prisoners. 

"  Sapristi  /" 

"Well,  what  they  say  is  very  easily  verified,"  said  the 
doctor,  rather  tartly. 

The  fact  is  that  he  was  somewhat  nettled  at  the  doubting 
expression  with  which  the  governor  met  his  account  of  his 
interview  with  Jack  Harkaway  and  his  fellow  prisoners. 

"  My  dear  Doctor  Berteaux,"  returned  the  governor,  with 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  213 

the  most  irritating  smile,  "  this  youth  is  a  notorious  young 
scoundrel.  Just  see  how  clever  he  must  be,  too ;  he  has 
actually  imposed  upon  the  astute  Doctor  Berteaux,  who  has 
such  a  vast  experience  amongst  criminals." 

"But,  sir " 

"  I  tell  you,  doctor,  I  know  all  about  this  young  scoundrel 
from  A  to  Z.  His  real  name  is  Herbert  Murray." 

"Why,  that  he  said  was  the  real  name  of  the  agent 
Markby,"  exclaimed  the  doctor. 

"  The  deuce  he  did.     Egad !  doctor,  that's  beautiful." 

And  the  governor  chuckled  rarely  at  the  idea. 

The  doctor  began  to  look  a  little  uncomfortable. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say " 

"  That  you  have  been  egregiously  humbugged  ?  Yes, 
that's  exactly  what  I  do  mean.  Why,  doctor,  doctor,  at  your 
time  of  life  consider." 

«  But " 

"  Come,  come,  get  rid  of  this  silly  fancy,  old  friend." 

"  At  least/'  insisted  the  doctor,  "  do  me  the  favour  to 
communicate  with  the  consul." 

"  Indeed,  I  shall  do  nothing  of  the  kind.  You  can  see 
the  British  consul  if  you  like,  and  a  rare  laugh  he'll  enjoy  at 
your  expense  when  he  sees  how  you  have  been  duped  by 
this  young  scoundrel." 

"  Ahem  ! " 

****** 

Well,  the  doctor  did  not  communicate  with  the  consul 
after  this,  and  Jack  Harkaway  waited  with  his  companions, 
Mole  and  the  "  wet  blanket,"  Harry  Girdwood,  and  the  two 
faithful  darkeys,  and  waited  in  vain. 

Waited  until  they  grew  heart-sick  with  hope  deferred. 


CHAPTER  XCVIII. 

JOB    DEERING    AT    HOME    AGAIN — ON    THE     LOOKOUT — NEWS 
AT  LAST— JOVIAL  CAPTAIN    ROBINSON  IN  DANGER. 

WE  must  cross  the  Channel  to  England  again. 
But  not  for  long. 

One  character  in  our  drama  of  real  life  has  not  appeared 
upon  the  scene  for  some  time. 


214  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

We  allude  to  the  skipper  of  the  "  Albatross,"  Joe  Deering. 

Captain  Deering  had  finished  his  course  and  returned  to 
his  native  land. 
.  He  was  anxious  to  get  home,  for  he  had  a  purpose  in  view. 

He  wished  to  rout  out  two  men  to  whom  he  owed  a  very 
deep  grudge,  which  he  was  fully  determined  to  pay  off. 

One  was  Mr.  Murray,  the  treacherous  owner  of  the  ill- 
fated  "  Albatross,"  for  Captain  Deering,  it  should  be  borne 
in  mind,  was  ignorant  of  the  wretched  man's  well-merited 
fate. 

The  other  was  that  traitor  friend  of  his,  the  accomplice 
of  the  elder  Murray — jovial  Captain  Robinson. 

Joe  Deering  was  in  earnest,  and  he  pursued  his  inquiries 
with  the  utmost  diligence. 

The  jovial  captain  was  not  to  be  heard  of  anywhere  at 
first. 

But  Joe  Deering,  baffled  here,  like  a  skilled  mariner  as  he 
was,  set  out  on  another  tack. 

He  made  his  inquiries  for  Mr.  Murray  alone. 

"  Where  one  thief  is,"  said  Joe,  to  himself,  "  the  other 
murdering  scoundrel  is  sure  to  be  not  far  off." 

For  some  time  his  search  proved  unavailing  again ;  but  he 
was  presently  rewarded  for  his  perseverance  by  the  first 
gleam  of  good  luck. 

He  learnt  the  late  address  of  Murray  senior. 

"  This  is  a  step  in  the  right  direction,"  said  Joe  Deering, 
with  a  chuckle. 

So  with  renewed  hope  he  went  to  the  house. 

"  Mr.  Murray  ain't  been  home  for  many  months,  sir," 
said  the  housekeeper,  in  reply  to  Deering's  inquiry,  "  and  I 
haven't  any  news  of  him  since  goodness  knows  when." 

"  You  don't  mean  that  ?  "  said  Deering,  aghast. 

"  Indeed,  but  I  do,  and  I  hope  that  you're  not  going  to 
misbelieve  me  like  that  Captain  Robinson,  that  calls  here 
every " 

"  What  ?  "  ejaculated  Deering.  "  Avast  there.  Captain 
Robinson,  did  you  say  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"  Do  you  know  him  ? " 

"  I  can't  very  well  be  off  knowing  him,  seeing  as  he's 
here  about  twice  a  day,  and  I  know  he  never  wished  my 
poor  master  no  good." 

"  What  makes  you  think  that  ? "  asked  Joe  Deering. 


fffS  BOY  TINKER. 


215 


"Master  used  always  to  try  to  avoid  seeing  him,  poor 
old  gentleman,"  replied  the  housekeeper. 

'•  Why  do  you  call  him  '  poor  old  gentleman  ? ' " 

"  Because  I  know  he  suffered  dreadfully,  and  I  think  he 
was  worried  by  that  Robinson  into  doing  something  dread- 
ful." 

"How  dreadful?" 

Joe  Deering's  curiosity  was  excited  now  by  the  house- 
keeper's manner,  and  he  pressed  her  for  further  information. 

"  That  Captain  Robinson  worrited  him  to  a  skeleton,  sir," 
she  answered  ;  "  he  was  always  here  nag,  nag,  nagging  night 
and  day.  At  last  my  poor  master  bolted,  sir." 

"  Bol'ted ! " 

"  Ran  away." 

"Whereto?" 

"  I  don't  know ;  bat  he  bolted  from  here,  and  from  Captain 
Robinson." 

"But  Mr.  Murray  was  surely  not  in  fear  of  Captain 
Robinson  ?  " 

"  Indeed,  he  was.  Captain  Robinson  knew  something 
about  my  poor  master  that  oughtn't  to  be  known,  so  it  was 
said,  and  he  was  always  trying  to  force  Mr.  Murray  to  give 
him  money." 

"The  deuce  he  was!"  said  Captain  Deering.  "This 
throws  a  new  light  on  the  scoundrel  and  his  cursed  good- 
natured-looking  figure-head." 

"A  deceitful  beast!"  said  the  housekeeper,  warmly. 
"  You  would  have  thought  that  he  couldn't  hurt  a  worm  to 
look  at  him,  and  yet  I  do  believe  that  he's  drove  poor 
Mr.  Murray  to  make  away  with  himself." 

"  You  don't  think  that  ?  " 

"  What  else  can  I  think  ?  He  hasn't  been  seen  or  heard 
or  for  months  and  months.  But  if  I  wasn't  so  heavy  at 
heart  over  that,  sir,  I  could  laugh  for  joy  to  see  that  beast  of 
a  Captain  Robinson's  disappointment  every  time  be  comes." 

"  So  he  comes  often  ?  "  said  Joe  Deering,  eagerly. 

u  Every  day ;  sometimes  twice  a  day,"  was  the  reply. 

Deering  thought  this  information  over  quietly. 

"Would  you  like  to  serve  him  out? "  he  asked  presently. 

"Who?" 

"  Captain  Robinson,"  responded  Deering. 

"  That  I  should,  indeed,"  said  the  housekeeper,  eagerly ; 
"only  show  me  how  to  do  it," 


2 16  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"I  will." 

Joe  Deering  did. 

He  made  himself  known  to  the  woman,  and  convinced 
her  that  he  had  ample  reason  for  wishing  to  repay  the 
grudge. 

And  they  plotted  together  to  wreak  a  well-merited  ven- 
geance upon  that  falsely  jovial  Captain  Robinson. 

The  nature  of  that  vengeance  you  will  learn  if  you  have 
patience  to  wait  till  the  next  chapter. 


CHAPTER  XCIX. 

HOW  CAPTAIN  ROBINSON  CAME  TO  APPLY  HIS  LEECH  AGAIN 
— WHAT  CAME  OF  IT— THE  SEA  GIVES  UP  ITS  DEAD— A 
FEARSOME  SIGHT — THE  TRAITOR'S  TERROR — JOE  DEERING 
WIPES  OFF  AN  OLD  SCORE. 

CAPTAIN  ROBINSON  was  more  jovial  than  ever. 

His  honest-looking,  ruddy  face  was  beaming  with  smiles, 
and  he  appeared  as  hearty  as  the  most  honest,  upright  and 
plain-sailing  fellow  in  the  world. 

Captain  Robinson  was  like  most  sailors  in  one  respect; 
he  was  remarkably  superstitious. 

Instinctive  presage  of  good  luck  to-day  put  him  in  rare 
spirits,  as  he  made  his  customary  call. 

"  I  fell  as  if  I  was  going  to  land  him  to-day,"  muttered  the 
jovial  captain  to  himself. 

And  his  face  was  actually  beaming  with  smiles,  as  his 
hand  rested  on  the  knocker. 

"Oh,  good,  morning,  Mrs.  Wilmot,"  he  said,  heartily; 
"  how  are  you  this  bright  morning,  Mrs.  Wilmot  ?  " 

"  Better,  thank  you,  Captain  Robinson,"  returned  the 
housekeeper,  giving  him  an  odd  glance. 

"  That's  hearty.     Why,  you  are  looking  more  yourself." 

"  Better  in  health,  because  better  in  spirits,"  said  the 
housekeeper,  insidiously. 

The  captain  pricked  up  his  ears  at  this. 

"  Any  better  news  by  chance,  Mrs.  Wilmot  ?  "  said  he. 

"  Ah,  that  there  is  indeed,"  said  she. 

"  About  the  master  ?  "  asked  he. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER. 


217 


"  That's  it,"  said  she. 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  that  he's  coming  home  again  ?  " 

"  I  don't  mean  to  say  that  he's  coming,"  said  the  house- 
keeper, with  wondrous  significance. 

"  Why,  whatever  are  you  driving  at  ? "  he  said. 

"I'm  not  a-driving  at  nothing,  Captain  Robinson — least- 
ways, not  that  I  am  aware  of.  All  I  know  is,  that  Mr. 
Murray  ain't  likely  to  be  coming  home,  for  he  ain't  in  a 
position  to  come  home,  seeing  as " 

She  paused. 

"  What  ?  " 

"  Guess  what." 

"  Hang  it  all,  I  can't" 

"You  must" 

She  laughed  outright,  and  clapped  her  hands  in  regular 
kitten-like  joy. 

"  What  on  earth  do  you  mean,  Mrs.  Wilmot  ?  I  hate  such 
palavering  and  beating  about  the  bush.  If  he's  coming 
home,  say  so  ;  if  he  ain't  coming  home,  tell  me  where  I  can 
see  him,  or  where  he's  hiding." 

"  Why,  he  can't  be  coming  home  when " 

Here  she  stopped  short  in  the  most  aggravating  manner 
in  the  world. 

The  jovial  captain  grew  black  and  threatening. 

He  was  just  going  to  burst  out  into  a  noisy  "fit  of  abusive 
language,  when  she  stopped  him  short  with  a  remark  which 
quite  startled  him. 

"There,  there,  what  an  impatient  man  you  are,  surely, 
Captain  Robinson.  Go  up  stairs  and  see  for  yourself  why 
he  ain't  coming  home." 

The  captain  could  only  infer  one  thing  from  her  words. 

Murray  was  back. 

Yes,  he  was  not  coming  home,  because  he  had  already 
come. 

This  explained  the  housekeeper's  joyous  spirits,  which 
seemed  to  bubble  over  in  her. 

"  She's  a  nice  old  gal,"  said  Robinson  to  himself,  as  he 
mounted  the  stairs,  "  and  I'll  stand  her  a  trifle  after  I  have 
applied  my  leech  to  her  master  again.  Ha,  ha,  ha !  " 

The  jovial  captain  laughed  at  the  quaint  conceit. 

He  rarely  enjoyed  the  prospect  of  once  more  gloating  over 
the  miserable  Murray  writhing  under  the  moral  pressure. 

"Ill   make  him  bleed   handsome  for  keeping  away  SQ 


2 18  YOUNG  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

long,"  thought  this  jovial  mariner.  "  I  wonder  how  hell 
enjoy  the  leech  after  such  a  long  while  ? " 

His  hand  rested  upon  the  handle  of  the  door. 

What  a  startler  it  would  be  for  Mr.  Murray. 

"I'll  knock,"  thought  the  jovial  Captain  Robinson  ;  "  hell 
think  it's  Mother  Wilmot  again.  Such  larks !  " 

He  knocked. 

"Come  in." 

How  changed  the  voice  sounded. 

"  He's  caught  cold,"  thought  the  practical  joker. 

He  opened  the  door. 

Closed  it  carefully  behind  him  to  guard  against  intrusion. 

Then  he  turn  and  faced — Joe  Deering ! 


Jovial  Captain  Robinson  stood  aghast. 

The  sight  of  his  old  friend  literally  petrified  him. 

Deering  stood  facing  the  jovial  scoundrel,  his  hands  lean- 
ing on  the  table. 

Not  a  muscle  of  his  face  moved. 

A  cold,  settled  expression  was  in  his  eyes. 

So  fixed,  so  steady,  that  they  might  have  been  set  in  the 
head  of  a  dead  man. 

The  jovial  Robinson  was  tongue-tied  for  a  time. 


"Joe!" 

This  monosyllable  he  faltered  after  a  long  while,  and  after 
a  very  big  effort. 

But  Joe  Deering  said  never  a  word  in  reply,  nor  did  he 
move  a  muscle. 

"Joe." 

Deering  stared  at  him  with  the  same  fixed,  glassy  eyes, 
until  Jovial  Captain  Robinson  had  a  hideous  idea  flash  across 
him. 

Was  it  really  a  living  man  there  ? 

He  fastened  a  fixed,  fascinating  look  upon  the  figure  of 
the  friend  he  had  so  villanously  betrayed,  and  retreating  a 
step,  groped  about  behind  him,  for  the  handle  of  the  door. 

At  last  he  got  hold  of  it,  and  turned  it. 

"  Stop ! " 

Deering  had  spoken,  and  with  a  jerk  the  jovial  Captain 
-Robinson  turned  round. 


ii9 

"  Joe!  "  he  gasped,  again,  «did  you  speak?" 

Xow  Joe  Deering  saw  by  the  traitor's  pallid  rfc**lr^  and 
frightened  look,  what  was  passing  in  his  mind. 

So  he  was  at  no  pains  to  destroy  the  illusion. 

*•  I  did.     Your  ears  did  not  deceive  you." 

- 1  thought  not,"  faltered  Captain  Robinson,  plucking  up 
in  a  faint  degree,  however. 

~  You  marvel  to  see  the  ocean  give  up  its  dead,72  began 
Joe  Deering.  in  a  hollow  voice. 

Jovial  Captain  Robinson  sank  against  the  door  for  sup- 
port, while  a  delicate  green  tint  spread  itself  over  his  face. 

We  have  said  that  he  was  a  superstitious  man. 

This  huge  Sump  of  humanity— nay,  rather  of  inhumanity 
— was  worse  than  a  schoolgirl  in  point  of  courage. 

The  very  word  ghost  frightened  him,  if  he  saw  it  in  print. 

He  was  sure  that  Joe  Deering  was  dead. 

Certain  was  he  that  Joe  Deering  had  been  decoyed  into 
that  floating  coffin,  and  sent  to  a  watery  grave  by  himself. 

Here  then  was  the  betrayed  man's  ghost  come  to  reproach 
him  with  his  crime. 

The  strong  man  turned  heart-sick,  and  was  like  to  faint. 

Joe  Deering  looked  at  the  fear-stricken  traitor  in  *^mti 

He  enjoyed  his  terror  keenly  indeed. 

Xo  feeling  of  pity  at  the  abject  terror  of  the  •lUdieJ 

For  bis  thoughts  went  back  to  those  fearful  days  and 
nights  they  passed  on  board  the  doomed  "  Albatross." 

Jovial  Captain  Robinson  had  been  pitiless  before,  and 
iln  iiffi  i  mi  ii  nun  Ininaili  in  Hi  n  n  nil  ill  limi  luillniili  mil 
Joe  Deering's  kind  heart. 

A  genial,  generous  and  soft-hearted  fellow  as  a  role,  he 
could  not  pardon  this  infamous  wretch  who  had  lured  him 
•nto  such  a  trap,  even  while  professing  the  most  affectionate 


Xo! 

This  was  Joe  Deering's  rhmfg  Mt  long  looked-for  op- 
portunity, and  no  weak  emotion  should  spoil  the  revenge 
which  he  had  waited  for  so  patiently. 


Jovial  Captain  Robinson  essayed  to  speak. 
In  a  faint,  faltering  voice,  he  managed  to  ] 

_--  -  '.  .  '    _     r      "     ':..'.- 


220  YO  UNG  JA  CAT  HA  RKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  Well,  murderer ! "  returned  joe  Deering ;  "  what  is  it 
you  want  ? " 

"  I  want  you  to  shake  hands  with  me,  Joe,"  responded 
the  other,  almost  inaudibly. 

"  Assassin !  " 

"  I — I — I  don't  mean  you  any  harm,"  gasped  jovial  Cap- 
tain Robinson. 

"  Liar  !  "  thundered  Joe  Deering  ;  "  you  dare  make  that 
statement,  hovering  as  you  do,  between  life  and  death !  " 

"  No,  no,  no,  no  !  "  shrieked  the  jovial  captain  ;  "  not  that, 
Joe,  not  that. " 

"  Yes,  I  say  ;  for  you  are  not  long  for  this  world." 

"  You  are  not  sent  to  tell  me  that,  Joe,"  said  Robinson, 
his  voice  dying  away  in  spite  of  a  desperate  effort  to  make 
it  audible. 

"  I  am." 

"  Ugh  !  " 

And  with  a  half  groan,  half  grunt,  he  sank  upon  the 
ground  prostrate. 

Before  his  senses  had  fairly  fled,  Joe  Deering  strode  over 
to  him,  and  delivered  him  a  heavy  kick  behind. 

This  brought  him  round  in  a  wonderful  way. 

He  knew  that  it  was  a  material  foot  that  had  given  that 
kick,  and  the  conviction  was  a  marvellous  relief  to  him. 

He  scrambled  up. 

As  he  got  to  his  feet,  Joe  Deering  fixed  him  by  the  throat, 
and  shook  him. 

"You  plotted  to  accomplish  my  murder,"  he  said;  "but 
now  my  turn's  come,  Robinson,  and  I  mean  to  punish  you." 

Jovial  Captain  Robinson  was  a  coward,  an  arrant  cur,  yet 
he  infinitely  preferred  having  to  tackle  flesh  and  blood,  to 
battling  with  a  ghost. 

He  turned  upon  his  assailant. 

But  Deering  was  not  to  be  denied. 

Before  the  jovial  captain  could  do  any  thing  to  help  him- 
self, Joe  Deering  hammered  his  face  into  a  jelly. 

Half  dazed,  stunned,  and  blinded,  Robinson  fought  it  out, 
and  struggling  fiercely,  he  shook  himself  free. 

And  then  he  fled  like  a  beaten  cur  from  the  house. 

Joe  Deering  did  not  attempt  to  follow  him. 

"  There,"  he  said,  calmly  enough,  considering  what  had 
gone  before,  "  that's  done.  Thank  goodness  it's  off  my  mind. 
Mr.  Murray  must  have  my  next  attention," 


BIS  BOY  TINKEP.  22« 

He  little  thought  that  the  wretched  shipowner  had  already 
paid  the  penalty  of  his  crimes. 

****** 

Jovial  Captain  Robinson  was  never  the  same  man  again. 

Whether  it  was  the  physical  or  the  mental  punishment  he 
had  had,  we  cannot  possibly  determine,  bnt  certain  it  is 
that  something  broke  him  up  from  that  day,  and  he  lingered 
on  a  miserable  life  of  two  years  or  more,  and  died  in  abject 
want, 


CHAPTER  C. 

A  DOSE  OF  PALM  OIL. 

HAVING  settled  the  hash  of  jovial  Captain  Robinson,  we 
now  proceed  to  the  pleasant  task  of  measuring  out  justice 
to  others. 

Messieurs  Murray  and  Chivey  are  the  persons  we  mean. 

Those  gentlemen,  having  taken  such  excellent  precau- 
tions to  cut  off  young  Jack  Harka way's  communications  with 
the  outer  world,  fancied  themselves  tolerably  safe. 

Yet  every  now  and  then  Murray's  nerves  were  shaken  as 
he  thought  of  the  vindictive  Lenoir. 

What  had  become  of  that  dangerous  individual  ? 

The  police  had  gone  to  the  spot  where  Murray  told  them 
he  had  left  the  coiner  senseless,  and  there  they  certainly 
found  traces  of  a  severe  struggle,  but  Lenoir  had  disap- 
peared. 

The  peasant  also  had  done  his  duty  as  a  French  citizen  by 
reporting  the  affair  to  the  first  gendarme  he  met  on  his  road. 

But  though  Marseilles  was  thoroughly  searched,  no  trace 
of  the  man  could  be  found,  either  in  the  town  or  the  sur- 
rounding rural  districts. 

"  There's  one  consolation,  guVnor,"  observed  Chivey,  "  he 
won't  dare  show  his  ugly  mug  in  Marseilles  any  more,  so 
you're  safe  enough  here." 

"  He's  desperate  enough  for  any  thing." 

"  It's  galleys  for  life  if  he's  collared,  and  he  knows  it  well 
enough." 

"Galleys!— ugh!" 

And  Herbert  Murray  gave  a  convulsive  shudder,  in  which 
he  was  sympathetically  joined  by  Chivey. 


B  2  2  YO  UNO  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"Ain't  it  'orrid  to  see  them  poor  devils  chained  to  the 
oars,  and  the  hoverseer  a  walkin'  up  and  down  with  his 
whip,  a-lashin'  'em  ? "  said  Chivey. 

"  Tis,  indeed." 

Murray  again  paused  and  shuddered,  but  after  a  moment, 
he  continued — 

"  But  it  would  be  jolly,  though,  to  see  Harkaway  and  his 
friends  at  it." 

"  Crikey !  and  wouldn't  I  jest  like  to  see  that  old  beast  of 
a  Mole  pulling  away  on  his  stumps.  D'ye  think  they'll  all 
get  it  ?  "  asked  Chivey. 

"  Yes,  unless  they  manage  to  communicate  with  theii 
friends  or  the  consul." 

"  Then  I  had  better  just  stroll  up  and  see  if  our  old  pal 
the  gaoler  has  stopped  any  more  letters." 

"  Yes,  go  by  all  means,  for  if  we  don't  call  for  them,  he's 
likely  enough  to  give  them  up  to " 

Murray  hesitated,  but  Chivey  instantly  supplied  the  word. 

"The  rightful  owners,  you  mean,  guv'nor." 

"  Cut  away  !  "  sharply  exclaimed  Murray,  who  was  an- 
noyed at  the  liberties  taken  by  his  quondam  servant. 

Chivey  strolled  up  towards  the  prison,  and  was  just  in 
time  to  meet  the  gaoler  coming  out. 

"Mornin',  mossoo,"  he  said,  with  a  familiar  nod,  "rather 
warm,  ain't  it  ?  What  d'ye  say  to  a  bottle  of  wine  jest  to 
wash  the  dust  out  o'  yer  throat  ?  " 

The  Frenchman  did  not  comprehend  a  fourth  part  of  this 
speech,  but  he  understood  that  he  was  to  partake  of  a  bottle 
of  wine,  and  at  once  signified  his  willingness. 

"  Vid  moosh  plaisir,  m'sieu." 

And  he  led  the  way  to  a  cabaret  where  they  sold  his 
favourite  wine. 

"  Now  have  you  got  any  letters  for  me  ? "  said  Chivey, 
when  they  were  comfortably  seated  at  a  table,  remote  from 
the  few  other  customers,  who  were  engaged  in  a  very  noisy 
game  of  dominoes. 

"  No  understand,"  said  the  man,  shaking  his  head. 

"  Any  letters — billy  duxes  ?  " 

The  man  made  a  gesture  to  indicate  that  he  did  not  un- 
derstand. 

"  Thick-headed  old  idiot,"  muttered  Chivey ;  then  calling 
in  pantomime  to  aid  his  lack  of  French,  he  produced  the 
first  letter  Jack  had  written  to  the  consul. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER. 


223 


"  Letter,  like  this." 

The  gaoler's  eyes  twinkled  ;  he  nodded  and  half  drew 
from  the  breast-pocket  of  his  uniform  the  very  document 
Chivey  was  so  anxious  to  get  hold  of. 

"  Hand  it  over,  old  pal,"  he  said,  holding  out  his  hand, 

The  gaoler  smiled  as  he  again  concealed  the  letter. 

Then  he  in  turn  held  out  his  hand,  and  made  signs  that 
he  required  something  to  be  dropped  into  it. 

''  Old  cormorant  wants  more  palm  oil,"  muttered  Chivey, 
and  most  reluctantly  he  drew  from  his  pocket  one  of  the 
gold  pieces  Herbert  Murray  had  given  him  for  the  purpose 
of  bribing  the  gaoler. 

But  the  Frenchman  shook  his  head. 

"  Two ;  I  cannot  part  with  the  letter  under  two,"  he  said, 
in  much  better  English  than  be  had  hitherto  spoken. 

"Well,  I'm  blest i  Why  couldn't  you  speak  like  that 
before  ?  We'd  have  come  to  business  much  sooner." 

"  I  thought  Monsieur  would  like  to  exhibit  his  extensive 
knowledge  of  the  French  tongue,  but  here  is  the  letter." 

"  And  here's  the  coin.  I  will  buy  as  many  as  you  can 
get  at  the  same  figure." 

"  You  shall  certainly  have  the  first  chance. " 

Chivey  helped  himself  to  another  glass,  and  asked — 

"  When  is  the  trial  to  be  ?  " 

"  The  judge,  unfortunately,  has  been  taken  ill,  and  the 
prisoners  will  have  to  wait  about  three  weeks  for  an  oppor- 
tunity of  proving  their  innocence." 

"  That's  unfortunate.     What  do  you  think  they'll  get  ? " 

"  If  found  guilty,  twenty  years  at  the  galleys." 

"  What,  old  wooden  legs  and  all  ?  " 

*  The  gentleman  who  has  lost  his  Hmbs  will  be  probably 
sent  to  some  other  employment" 

"What  a  pity.  Well,  good-bye,  old  cock;  keep  your 
weather-eye  open." 

"  Au  revoir^  monsieur" 

Cocking  his  hat  very  much  on  one  side,  Chivey  stalked 
out  of  the  place. 


YOUNG  JA  C*  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 


CHAPTER  CI. 

HOW      THE      PURLOINED      LETTER      WAS      LOST — ANb     WHO 
FOUND    IT. 

' '  THAT  'ere  frog-eating  swine  gets  two  quid  for  bonin'  the 
letter,  so  I  think  I'm  entitled  to  one.  Can't  let  all  the  coin 
go  into  old  Frenchy's  pocket." 

Thus  Chivey  muttered  to  himself  as  he  neared  the  place 
where  he  and  Herbert  Murray  were  staying. 

Chivey  evidently  intended  putting  the  screw  on  Herbert. 

"  Look  here,  guv'nor,"  said  he,  as  he  entered  the  room ; 
"I  ain't  much  of  a  reading  cove,  but  I  see  once  a  book 
called  Jessop's  fables." 

"  ^Esop's  fables,  I  presume  you  mean,  Chivey  ?  " 

"  It's  all  the  same.  But  there's  a  yarn  about  a  monkey 
what  made  the  cat  pull  chestnuts  out  of  the  fire ;  and  I'm 
jiggered  if  I'm  going  to  play  the  cat." 

"  I  am  not  aware  that  anyone  wishes  you  to  do  so,"  re- 
sponded Murray,  in  his  blandest  manner. 

"  Well,  you  are  a-trying  it  on,  at  any  rate." 

"  How  so  ? " 

"  Why,  supposing  it's  found  out  about  our  stopping  these 
here  letters  ? " 

'  Which  letters,  Chivey  ? " 

'The  one  I've  got  in  my  pocket,  and " 

'  Oh,  you've  got  one,  then.     Hand  it  over,  please,  Chivey." 

'  Not  so  fast,  guv'nor.  You  jest  listen  to  what  I've  got 
to  say  first  ? " 

'  I  am  all  attention." 

'  Well,  supposing  this  game  was  found  out,  who  do  you 
think  would  get  into  trouble  ? " 

"  Why,  you  would,  undoubtedly ;  and  your  friend  the 
French  gaoler." 

"  And  don't  you  think  it's  worth  your  while  to  come  down 
very  handsome,  considering  the  risk  I  run." 

"  It  does  not  strike  me  in  that  light ;  but  I  do  think  it 
would  be  a  good  plan  for  you  to  get  rid  of  the  stolen  letter 
as  soon  as  possible ;  for  if  any  thing  is  found  out,  and 
the  gaoler  says  he  gave  you  the  letters,  it  is  not  likely 


BIS  BOY 


d  of  a 


jdfathirff    wHI  be  taken  against  jours,  unless  the  doca- 
•eats  are  found  in " —  "* 


*  That's  all  very  welL" 

"Then  if  it's  all  very  well,  just  hand  over  the  letter." 

And  Munay  held  ontha  hand. 

drivey,  very  reluctantly,  pjrsvd  over  the  Ictlci, 
as  he  did  so— 

"Well,  Fm  blest  if  I  don't  drink  yon  would 
blackbird  off  the  nest  wh9e  you  stole  Ac  eggs." 

Herbert  Murray  took  no  notice  of  this  speech;  he  was 
too  deeply  engrossed  with  the  letter  which  he  found  read  as 
foQows — 

-  To  Her  Britannic  Majesty's  Consul  at  Marseilles  : 

"Sat,— I  have  already  addressed  several  letters  to  yon  on 
the  subject  of  the  incarceration  of  myself  and  friends  in  the 
pnfcjp  of  Maiseffles,  on  a  chjigc  of  counterfeit  coming.  X 
also  explained  bow  we  were  led,  by  the  artful  devices  of  a 
person  caffimj  himself  Markby.  to  be  actually  in  the  coiner's 
house  when  the  police  entered  it,  and,  therefore, 
are  certainly  against  us.  To  all  those  letters  yon 
no  reply,  which  I  think  is  certainly  hard,  and  not  quite  right, 

-•fi^"*  Ac  interests  of  British  subjects  m  the  tuwu  or  district 
I  at 

in  my  former  letters  I  requested  yon  to  com- 
witfa  the  bankers  in  this  town,  and  also  with  my 


"Now,  sir, 
municate  wit 
father,  whose  address  I  give  below,  and  who  placed 


in  their  hands  for  my  use.  If  you  wffl  do  so,  yon  wffl  see 
that  afl  the  statements  in  my  former  letters  arc  correct;  but 
if  yon  do  not,  a  number  of  British  subjects  wffl  probably  be 
condemned  and  heavily  seiUeitcrd,  entirely  through  your 
neglect. 

"Therefore,!  beg  of  yon  at  once  to  communicate  with 
those  who  can  identify  me  and  my  friends,  and  in  the  mean, 
time  to  use  your  mfluencejto  postpone  the  trial  rifl  that  com- 

m  Ymr  uhcJirnt  mmiM- 

•  J.  HARXAWAT,  Jan.* 

«MV  eye!"  said  Chivey,  when  Murray  bad  read  the  fetter 
ri,-aSt  be  getting  his  back  up?- 


226  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"  No  matter.  They  are  all  of  them  safe  enough,  and  if 
they  get  out,  I'll  forgive  them." 

"  But  they  won't  forgive  you." 

"  Perhaps  not ;  but  ring  the  bell,  Chivey.  We'll  have 
some  wine  after  this,  and  just  hand  over  the  cigar  box." 

The  ex-groom  gave  a  tug  at  the  bell-rope  and  ordered 
wine. 

Then  he  took  up  a  cigar-box  and,  giving  it  a  vigorous 
shake,  ejaculated — 

"  There  ain't  a  blessed  smoke  in  it,  guv'nor." 

"  Well,  I'll  just  put  on  my  hat  and  stroll  up  to  the  shop 
of  Monsieur  Cretineau-Joly  and  order  a  fresh  stock.  I 
must  have  a  few  minutes'  exercise  before  it  gets  dark; 
shan't  be  ten  minutes." 

Herbert  left  the  apartment,  while  Chivey  muttered — 

"  He's  afraid  of  meeting  that  Lenoir  if  he  goes  out  after 
dark." 

And  Chivey  was  quite  right. 

Herbert  Murray  walked  briskly  up  the  street  till  he  reached 
the  tobacconist's,  where  he  paused  a  moment,  to  look  at  the 
numerous  varieties  of  the  nicotian  herb  displayed  in  the 
window,  along  with  pipes  and  cigar  tubes  of  every  shape 
and  pattern. 

As  he  looked,  several  others  looked,  and  one  of  the 
lookers,  while  removing  his  pipe,  was  so  unfortunate  as  to 
allow  some  of  the  tobacco  ash  to  blow  in  Murray's  face. 

"  Curse  you,  for  an  awkward  Frenchman,"  growled  Murray, 
while  the  other  politely  apologised  for  the  mishap. 

Herbert  coughed,  and  sneezed,  and  drew  out  his  hand- 
kerchief to  wipe  his  face  ;  but  neither  he  nor  anyone  else 
noticed  at  the  same  time  he  drew  out  young  Jack  Hark- 
away's  letter,  which  fluttered  slowly  to  the  pavement,  where 
it  lay  with  the  address  downwards. 

Murray  bought  his  box  of  cigars,  and  returned  to  the 
hotel  where  he  resided,  but  still  the  letter  lay  unheeded  be- 
neath the  tobacco  shop  window,  till  darkness  had  settled 
over  the  town  of  Marseilles  except  where  street  lamps  and 
shop  lights  pierced  the  gloom. 

Then  there  came  up  to  the  shop  an  old  man,  who  appar- 
ently had  been  a  soldier,  as  he  dragged  one  leg  very  stiffly, 
and  had  his  left  arm  in  a  sling. 

But  although  his  hair  was  white,  his  carriage  was  upright 
and  martial. 


ff/S  BOY  TINKEJt.  227 

£t~  /ooked  in  at  the  ooor,  then  entered,  and  purchased 
some  tobacco, .  Tter  which  he  stood  outside  and  filled  his 
pipe. 

-  I  might  have  taken  a  light  inside,"  he  muttered,  when 
that  operation  was  finished,  and  seeing  a  scrap  of  paper  on 
the  pavement,  he  picked  it  up,  to  use  as  a  pipe-light. 

But  the  writing  on  the  outside  caught  his  eye. 

"  A  letter  to  the  British  consul ! "  the  old  man  ejaculated. 
"  It  may  be  worth  a  franc  or  two,  if  I  restore  it  to  his  excel- 
lency/1 

So  he  thrust  it  into  his  pocket,  obtained  a  light,  and 
hobbled  away  in  the  direction  of  the  consulate. 

But  presently  he  paused  in  a  retired  spot,  where  only  a 
single  lamp  illumined  the  surrounding  houses. 

"  I  wonder  what  the  letter  is  about,"  he  said ;  •*  I  can 
make  a  better  bargain,  perhaps,  if  I  know  the  contents." 

And  without  more  ado,  the  man  pulled  out  the  letter,  and 
read  it  carefully. 

Although  it  was  written  in  English,  the  old  French  soldier 
seemed  to  understand  it  thoroughly. 

"That  cursed  villain's  name  again,"  he  hissed,  through 
his  teeth,  when  he  had  read  a  few  fines.  M  But  111  pay  him 
yet." 

Then  he  continued  the  perusal,  steadily,  tin  he  came  to 
the  end. 

"  It  looks  like  truth,"  he  said,  as  he  returned  it  to  his 
pocket.  "  I  win  restore  it  to  the  consul.  Ha,  ha !  it  will  be 
sport  indeed  if  I,  Pierre  Lenoir,  the  proscribed  criminal, 
can  defeat  the  schemes  of  that  villain." 

With  a  subdued  chuckle  the  comer  departed  on  his  way, 
revelling  with  delight  at  the  thought  that  he  would  yet  be 
avenged  on  his  perfidious  friend. 

He  reached  the  consul's  residence,  knocked,  and  was 
admitted  by  die  same  servant  who  had  formerly  opened  the 
door  to  Chrvey. 

"  Is  his  Excellency  the  Consul  at  home?" 

"Yes,  but  very  much  engaged,"  replied  the  flunkey. 

"I  do  not  particularly  wish  to  see  him,  but  I  hare  found 
this  letter  in  the  street,  and  it  may  be  something  of  impor- 
tance." 

"  Right,  my  good  feUer ;  fere*s  a  franc  for  you." 

Ancfthe  door  was  c'.Dsed  on  Leaoir,  who  hastened  away 


228  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

Two  hours  later  the  governor  of  the  gaol  and  the  consul 
were  engaged  in  an  important  conversation. 

But  their  plans  must,  for  the  present,  remain  a  secret ; 
nor  did  Jack  and  his  imprisoned  friends  know  that  their  last 
letter  had  produced  a  better  effect  than  the  first. 


CHAPTER  CII. 

A  SORROWFUL  HOUSEHOLD — NEWS  AT  LAST. 

CHANGE  we  the  scene  to  England,  and  to  that  particu- 
lar part  of  the  island  where  old  Jack  and  his  friends  were 
living. 

Though  surrounded  by  every  luxury  that  money  could 
procure,  they  were  not  happy. 

"  No  news  yet !  "  was  the  first  question  that  Mrs.  Hark- 
away  would  ask  her  husband  in  the  morning,  and  he  with  a 
shake  of  the  head,  would  respond — 

"  None  yet,  my  dear  ;  but  do  not  despond. " 

But  the  fond  mother  vainly  endeavoured  to  hope  against 
hope. 

Little  Emily,  too,  went  about  in  a  most  listless,  melancholy 
manner,  wondering  why  it  was  that  Jack  did  not  write,  and 
Paquita,  too,  was  quite  despondent  at  not  hearing  any  thing 
of  Harry  Girdwood. 

Dick  Harvey  did  all  he  could  to  cheer  up  everybody,  but 
it  was  a  hard  task,  for  he  was  working  against  his  own  con- 
victions, which  were  that  the  youngters  had  got  into  some 
trouble  from  which  they  were  unable  to  extricate  themselves. 

Letters  had  been  written  to  young  Jack  at  Marseilles,  but 
these  had  never  reached  him,  having  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  Herbert  Murray,  who  had  applied  at  the  post  office,  in  the 
name  of  Harkaway,  for  them. 

Paquita  and  little  Emily,  though  still  firm  friends,  were 
not  in  each  other's  society  so  much  as  formerly,  as  they  both 
preferred  to  endure  their  sorrows  in  solitude. 

Paquita,  in  particular,  was  fond  of  a  sequestered  nook  in 
the  grounds,  where,  half  hidden  by  shrubs,  she  could  com- 
mand a  view  of  the  long  straight  road  leading  from  the  nearest 
railway  station. 


HIS  BOY  TIXKER. 


229 


She  had  a  notion  that  she  would  be  the  first  one  to  see 
the  absentees,  and  had  chosen  that  as  a  place  of  observa- 
tion, where  she  would  sit  for  hours  watching  and  trying  to 
hope. 

Harvey  found  out  her  retreat,  and  employed  the  pho- 
tographer who  took  Emily's  portrait,  to  give  a  good  likeness 
of  the  southern  beauty. 

Paquita  knew  nothing  of  this,  so  absorbed  was  she  in  her 
own  meditations,  till  a  few  days  afterwards  Uncle  Dick,  as 
she  had  learnt  to  call  him,  gave  her  some  copies  of  it, 

She  thanked  him,  and,  hurrying  off  to  her  own  room,  en- 
closed one  in  an  envelope,  which  she  addressed  to  Harry. 
There  was  no  letter  with  it,  but  underneath  the  portrait  she 
wrote — 

"  With  Paqufafs  dearest  lore.  As  she  waits  for  omewhe 
comes  not." 

This  sLe  posted  herself,  registering  it  for  extra  safety. 
****** 

Still  came  no  tidings,  as  day  after  day  passed,  till  one 
morning  the  postman  brought  a  large  official-looking  letter, 
addressed  in  a  strange  handwriting,  and  bearing  foreign 
post-marks. 

Despite  all  his  hardihood,  Harkaway*s  hand  trembled  as 
he  took  it  up,  and,  eager  as  he  was  for  news,  it  was  some 
seconds  before  he  could  nerve  himself  to  break  the  seaL 

His  wife  sat  watching  with  breathless  expectation,  feeling 
convinced  that  at  length  there  was  news. 

**  Are  they  safe  ?  "  she  asked,  when  she  had  followed  her 
husband's  eye  to  the  conclusion  of  the  lengthy  epistle. 

"  They  are  safe,  for  the  present? 

"  Thank  Heaven !  "  she  exclaimed,  giving  way  to  woman's 
great  relief — tears. 

"  But  where  are  they  ? "  she  continued  a  minute  after- 
wards. 

"  At  Marseilles,  where  they  have  been  for  some  time,  so 
the  British  consul  tells  me,  and  where  they  are  likely  to  be 
till  we  go  to  release  them." 

"  Release  them  !  What  do  you  mean  ?  Don't  keep  back 
anything  from  me,  dear  husband." 

"  WeU,  if  you  must  know  the  worst,  they  are  in  prison,  on 
a  charge  of  coming." 

u  What  an  infamous  charge  to  make  against  them  ?  "  ex- 
claimed a  couple  of  indignant  feminine  voices,  belonging 


230  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

to  little  Emily  and  Paquita,  who  had  just  come  into  the 
room. 

"  Husband,  you  don't  believe  our  boy  to  be  guilty  of  such 
a  crime  ? " 

**  No  ;  but " 

"  But  what  ?  " 

"  Appearances  are  very  much  against  them,  the  consul 
says.  The  great  thing  is  to  establish  their  identity,  as  the 
boy  is  supposed  to  have  assumed  the  name  he  bears." 

At  this  moment  Harvey  appeared,  and  the  news  was 
instantly  imparted  to  him. 

"  It  is  a  very  serious  affair,  and  it  is  certain  we  must  go  at 
once.  But  really  it  is  ridiculous  to  fancy  old  Mole  and  those 
black  rascals  accused  of  coining." 

"  It  will  not  be  ridiculous,  if  they  are  condemned  and  sent 
to  the  galleys,  pa,"  said  little  Emily. 

"  True,  little  girl,  therefore  we  will  see  about  starting  at 
once.  You  see  about  packing  my  things,  while  I  run  up  to 
town  to  get  passports  for  the  lot  of  us." 

"  Passports  are  not  required  for  travelling,"  said  Emily. 

"  Certainly  not  for  travelling ;  but  what  can  establish  our 
identity  better  than  passports  signed  by  the  British  Secretary 
of  State  for  foreign  affairs  ?  " 

There  was  no  answering  this  question  ;  so  Dick  started  off 
for  London,  while  the  rest  busied  themselves  with  prepara- 
tions for  a  continental  trip. 

Within  forty-eight  hours  they  were  crossing  the  Channel; 
six  hours  later  they  had  entered  Paris,  where  they  took  a 
brief  rest,  and  then  continued  their  journey  towards  Mar 
seilles. 

For  just  as  they  were  starting  Harkaway  received  a  tele- 
gram from  the  consul  at  Marseilles — 

"  Come  as  soon  as  you  possibly  can,  or  you  may  be  too 
late." 

Need  it  be  said  that,  after  such  a  message,  they  lost  no 
time  in  speeding  to  their  destination  ? 


ff/S  BOY  TINKER.  231 


CHAPTER  CIIL 

MONSIEUR   HOCQUART  CLERMONT   DELAMARRE — THE    COINER 
AT  HOME. 

BUT  what  had  the  consul  and  the  governor  of  the  gaol  been 
doing  all  this  time  ? 

When  the  consul  first  called  upon  the  governor  of  the  gaol, 
that  official  tried  to  laugh  off  the  matter. 

"  Surely,"  said  the  governor,  "  you  don't  believe  the  tale 
these  young  fellows  tell  ?  " 

"  I  am  more  than  half  inclined  to  do  so,  if  only  from  the 
fact  that  the  writer  of  this  appears  to  have  written  several 
other  letters  which  have  miscarried.  But  why,  may  I  ask, 
was  I  not  informed  that  some  of  my  countrymen  had  been 
inested  ? " 

"  Well,  my  dear  sir,  their  story  seemed  to  me  so  absurd, 
that  I  did  not  think  it  worth  while  to  trouble  you." 

u  But  they  asked  to  see  me." 

"True." 

"  And  I  fear  as  you  did  not  forward  their  request,  I  shall 
be  obliged  to  mention  your  name  to  our  ambassador  in 
Paris." 

"  For  Heaven's  sake  do  not !  If  such  a  thing  were  known 
to  the  minister  of  justice,  I  should  lose  my  situation  at 
once." 

"  Then  if  I  am  silent  on  this  matter,  you  must  render  me 
every  assistance  in  finding  out  the  truth  about  these 
prisoners." 

"  Willingly.     What  can  I  do  ?  " 

"  I  should  like  to  see  the  youth  who  calls  himself  Harka- 
way ;  but  first  of  all,  where  is  the  gaoler  who  usually  has 
charge  of  these  prisoners  ? " 

"  Gone  to  his  home,  monsieur.  The  ordinary  officials  are, 
as  you  are  doubtless  aware,  replaced  by  a  military  guard, 
between  sunset  and  sunrise." 

u  Good,  then  oblige  me  by  bringing  him  here." 

So  young  Jack  was  brought  into  the  presence  of  the 
consul,  who  closely  questioned  him  as  to  what  he  had  been 
doing  in  Marseilles. 


232  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

He  told  the  truth,  and,  in  spite  of  the  severe  cross-ex- 
amination by  the  governor  and  the  consul,  stuck  to  his  tale. 

'•  Humph  !  "  said  the  consul.  "  You  are  consistent,  at  all 
events.  Well,  for  the  present,  you  may  return  to  your  cell, 
but  don't  tell  even  your  friends  that  you  have  seen  the  British 
consul." 

"  I  won't  mention  it,  sir." 

And  Jack  returned  to  his  cell,  escorted  by  the  governor 
himself,  as  the  consul  did  not  wish  anyone  to  know  of  the 
interview. 

But  when  the  governor  returned,  the  consul  said — 

"  Now,  Monsieur  Hocquart  Delamarre,  what  do  you  think 
of  the  affair  ?  " 

The  governor  did  not  reply,  but  there  quietly  glided  from 
behind  a  screen,  which  probably  had  concealed  him  during 
the  interview,  a  man  of  middle  age  and  height,  with  nothing 
at  all  striking  in  his  appearance. 

He  might  have  passed  for  a  clerk,  a  second-rate  shop- 
keeper, or  a  superior  artisan;  anyone  passing  him  in  the 
street  would  have  taken  no  notice  whatever  of  such  an  every- 
day kind  of  a  man. 

Yet,  after  all,  a  very  close  observer  would  have  noticed 
something  very  peculiar  about  him.  His  eyes  !  " 

One  moment  they  seemed  to  pierce  the  inmost  recesses  of 
your  very  soul,  yet  when  you  tried,  through  them,  to  find  a 
clue  to  their  owner's  thoughts,  you  were  utterly  defeated,  for 
they  became  misty  and  expressionless. 

"  What  do  I  think  of  the  affair,  monsieur  ?" 

"Yes." 

"  Well,  so  early  in  the  case,  it  is  difficult  to  pronounce  a 
decided  opinion,"  said  Delamarre. 

"  That  is  very  true,  Monsieur  Delamarre,"  said  the 
consul. 

"  But  as  your  excellency  has  sought  my  professional 
assistance  in  this  case,  I  feel  my  reputation  is  at  stake,  and 
shall  exert  myself  to  the  utmost." 

"  Monsieur  Delamarre  is  one  of  the  cleverest  gentlemen 
we  have  in  this  line  of  business,"  said  the  governor. 

The  middle-aged  gentleman  bowed. 

"  You  are  kind  enough  to  say  so,  sir." 

"  You  have  made  a  good  selection,  Monsieur  le  Consul. 
In  the  detective  police  Monsieur  Delamarre  has  few 
equals." 


fflS  BOY  TINKER.  233 

Again  the  detective  bowed,  and  addressing  the  consul, 
said— 

"  When  shall  I  next  have  the  honour  of  waiting  on  you 
again,  monsieur  ?  " 

*•  As  soon  as  yon  have  learned  any  thing  you  think  of 
sufficient  importance  to  tell  me." 

"  At  the  consulate,  of  course  ?  " 

"Will  it  be  safe  for  you  to  be  seen  there?" 

«•  Monsieur,  I  stake  my  professional  reputation  that,  when 
I  call  on  you,  you  shall  not  recognise  me  till  I  choose 
to  reveal  myself.  There  is  an  extremely  artful  person  mixed 
up  in  this  affair,  but  I  shall  prove  still  more  artful  than  any 
of  them;  take  the  word  of  Hocquart  Clermont  Delamarre." 

With  another  bow  the  French  detective  made  his  exit. 

He  proceeded  in  the  first  place  to  his  own  temporary 
residence,  where  he  made  a  considerable  alteration  in  his 
personal  appearance. 

Then  making  straight  for  the  quarter  of  the  city  mostly 
inhabited  by  the  respectable  working  classes,  he  made  a 
friendly  call  on  Pierre  Lenoir  the  coiner,  who,  as  it  will  be 
remembered,  the  police  had  been  unable  to  trace  since  his 
encounter  with  Herbert  Murray  and  the  waggoner. 

A  friendly  call  we  have  termed  it,  and  so  it  seemed  at 
first,  for  the  detective  and  the  criminal  shook  hands  in  the 
most  friendly  manner. 

"Hullo,  friend  Clermont,"  exclaimed  Lenoir,  "what 
brings  you  from  Paris ! " 

"  Why,  it  was  too  hot  for  me  there." 

There  was  a  pause. 

"  And  you,  too,"  continued  the  detective.  "  I  have  heard 
your  name  mentioned  very  much  of  late.  How  did  that 
affair  happen  ?  " 

Pierre  Lenoir  told  his  friend,  whom  of  course  he  did  not 
know  as  a  detective,  but  merely  as  an  associate  with  coiners 
and  such  like  people,  how  he  had  been  tricked  by  Markby. 

"  But  I'll  have  his  life,  though." 

"  Doubtless.  It  will  be  a  bad  day  for  him  when  he  falls 
into  your  hands." 

Lenoir  growled  a  fierce  oath. 

"  He  has  escaped  me  for  the  present,  but  if  I  wait  for 
years,  I  will  have  my  revenge.  Pierre  Lenoir  never  forgives." 

Unheedful  of  the  coiner's  anger,  the  detective  stroked  his. 
moustache,  and  continued — 


234  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  But  how  about  the  prisoners  up  at  the  gaol  yonder  ?" 

"They  are  innocent." 

"Innocent! " 

"  Undoubtedly." 

"  Then  why  are  they  in  prison  ? " 

"  Because  the  only  persons  who  can  clear  them  are  Markby 
and  myself." 

"  Ah,  I  see  !  " 

"  And  Markby  for  some  reason  or  other  won't  clear 
them." 

"  Some  old  grudge,  I  suppose." 

"  Yes.  However,  they  are  innocent ;  when  I  tried  them, 
they  flatly  refused  to  have  anything  to  do  with  the  game." 

"  Well,  they  are  in  a  nice  fix  ;  but  how  did  you  manage  to 
escape  after  that  little  affair  with  Markby  and  the  peasant  ?  " 

"  Crawled  into  a  bush  as  near  as  possible  to  the  scene  of 
the  fight." 

"  Ah !  " 

"If  I  had  gone  half  a  mile  away,  the  police  would  no 
doubt  have  found  me,  but  the  thick-headed  rascals  never 
thought  of  looking  only  half  a  dozen  yards  off.  Ha,  ha,  ha  !  " 

The  detective  smiled  grimly. 

"  They  are.  thick-headed  rascals." 

And  after  a  pause  occupied  in  listening  to  sounds  in  the 
street,  he  repeated — 

"  And  the  English  prisoners  are  entirely  innocent  then  ?  " 

"  Entirely." 

"  Now  listen  to  me,  Pierre  Lenoir,"  continued  the  detec- 
tive, rapping  the  table  smartly  as  though  to  command  atten- 
tion. "  But  what  a  curious  echo  you  have  in  this  old  room." 

"  I  had  not  noticed  it ;  but  to  continue." 

"  These  English  refused  to  have  any  thing  to  do  with  your 
business,  you  say  ? " 

"  Yes  ;  and  showed  fight  when  I  would  have  used  force 
to  detain  them." 

"  Then  if  the  judge  knows  that,  the  young  fellows  will 
be  released  ? " 

"  Yes ;  but,  my  dear  friend,  it  is  not  likely  I  shall  go  to 
the  court  to  give  evidence  in  their  favour." 

"  You  will." 

"  Nonsense." 

"  I  shall  take  you  there." 

There  was  something  in  his  visitor's  manner  that  made 


&IS  BOY  TINKER. 

Lenoir  first  start  from  his  seat  and  make  a 
towards  the  fable. 

Bat  be  recoiled  when  Hocquart  Clennoct  Delamarre 
thrust  a  revolver  in  his  face  and  ^claimed — 

*  If  you  make  another  movement  towards  that  drawer 
where  jour  pistols  are,  I  will  send  a  ballet  through  TOO. 
Keep  your  hands  down  by  your  side." 

**What in  the  fiend's  name  does  this  mean? "gasped  the 


"  It  means  that  you  are  my  prisoner." 

"Prisoner." 

"Yes." 

"  Then  who  are  you  ?" 

"You  have  known  me  as  Cfermont,  but  my  real  name  • 
Ddamarre." 

"The  detective?" 

"The  same." 

The  coiner  gave  a  hasty  look  round  the  apartment,  and 
then  made  a  step  towards  the  door. 

But  it  instantly  opened,  and  there  appeared  a  police  officer 
in  uniform,  who  said  — 

"  If  you  attempt  to  pass  this  door,  you  are  a  dead  man." 

The  window! 

It  was  not  very  high  above  the  roadway,  and  one  bold 
bring  libert 


leap  might  yet  b 
But,  as  if  readi 
of  those  peculiar  raps  on  the  table,  which  was  again  echoed 


But,  as  if  reading  his  very  thoughts,  Delamarre  gave 

ose  peculiar  raps  on  the  table,  wh 
from  without,  and  instantly  the  figure  of  a  policeman  armed 


with  a  revolver  was  seen  fillin    the  casement. 

The  chimney! 

That  he  knew  was  crossed  by  strong  bars.  No  exit  that 
wav. 

-Sit  down,  Pierre  Lenoir." 

The  detective  was  provokmgty  cool,  and  the  coiner 
gnashed  his  teeth  with  rage. 

"  Sit  down,  man  ;  why,  yon  ought  to  fed  proud  at  being 
taken  so  neatly." 

-Curse  you'!" 

"Never  mind.  I  have  the  finest  and  easiest  pair  of 
wristbands  any  gentleman  in  your  fine  of  business  ever  wore. 
Let  me  try  them  on." 

Lenoir  for  a  moment  contemplated  resistance,  but  two  re- 
volvers were  dose  to  his  head,  so  second  thoughts  prevailed. 


236  VOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

He  was  firmly  handcuffed. 

"  Now,  Pierre,"  said  the  detective,  "  listen  to  me,  and  I 
will  quickly  prove  that  I  am  a  far  better  friend  than  you 
think  rne." 

The  coiner  smiled  a  bitter  smile. 

"  Of  course  it  doesn't  look  so  ;  but  listen." 

"  I  am  compelled  to,"  replied  Lenoir. 

"  You  can  clear  these  English  prisoners." 

"  If  I  choose  to  speak." 

"  If  you  choose  to  speak,  the  English  consul  will  exert  all 
his  influence  to  procure  a  mitigation  of  your  sentence — 
whatever  it  may  be/' 

Lenoir  nodded. 

"  But  if  you  do  not,  why,  the  whole  force  of  the  British 
Embassy  will  be  exerted  against  you ;  so  I  fancy  your  choice 
will  soon  be  made." 

Lenoir  sat  silent  for  some  minutes. 

"  Have  you  made  up  your  mind  ?  "  asked  the  detective  at 
length. 

"  I  don't  see  why  I  should  speak  ;  they  belong  to  the 
same  cursed  country  as  that  Markby." 

"  Well,  don't  you  see  how  nicely  things  come  round  ? 
You  clear  the  prisoners,  and  by  so  doing  incriminate  Markby, 
alias  Murray." 

"  Aye  ;  but  where  is  he  ?  " 

"  In  Marseilles.  I  am  only  waiting  for  a  little  more 
evidence  before  I  lay  my  hands  on  him.  He  is  a  slippery 
customer,  and  it  won't  do  to  arrest  him  until  the  case  is 
complete." 

"  Then,  curse  him,  I'll  tell  all — nay,  more,  if  you  look  in 
that  drawer,  where  the  pistols  are,  you  know,  you  will  find 
a  note  from  him  to  me.  That  will  be  quite  as  good  evidence 
as  my  word." 

"  Good,  Lenoir.  I  can't  promise  you  a  free  pardon,  but 
I  fancy  you  will  get  off  lightly." 

"  I  hope  I  may  be  sent  to  the  same  galley  as  Murray, 
alias  Markby,  has  to  serve ;  and  if  I  am  only  chained  to  the 
same  oar  I  shall  be  happy." 

"Why." 

"  I  will  find  an  early  opportunity,  and  then  I  will  kill  him." 

"  No,  Lenoir ;  that  will  not  be  the  way  to  shorten  youi 
sentence." 

"  I'll  kill 


fffS  BOY  TINKER.  237 

u  No :  lead  him  a  life  of  misery  and  dread  while  he  is 
chained  to  the  oar.  What  you  do  when  you  are  both  released 
is  a  matter  I  have  no  present  concern  with." 

"  March,  then  ;  let  us  be  going." 

And  the  coiner  walked  gaily  away,  his  anger  at  being  cap- 
tured having  been  replaced  by  joy,  at  the  hopes  of  avenging 
himself  on  the  treacherous  Markby,  alias  Murray. 

Hocquart  Clermont  Delamarre  himself  walked  arm-in-arm 
with  the  coiner,  and  the  good  people  of  Marseilles  knew  not 
that  he  had  been  taken. 

Even  in  the  gaol  he  was  entered  under  an  assumed  name. 

The  gaoler,  who  had  been  in  attendance  on  the  English 
party,  could  not  understand  why  his  prisoners  wrote  no  more 
letters  to  the  English  consul  or  their  relatives  in  England, 
and  Herbert  Murray  almost  suspected  the  truth  when  he 
chanced,  the  day  after  losing  the  letter,  to  look  for  it. 

But  Chivey  reassured  him. 

"  I  went  all  over  your  clothes  and  my  own  this  morning 
afore  you  was  up,  guVnor,  and  burnt  every  one  of  the  letters 
I  could  find." 

"  What  for  ? "  demanded  Murray. 

"  In  case  of  accidents.  It  would  not  do  us  any  good  to 
have  them  things  found  on  us;  and  nobody  ever  knows 
what  is  going  to  turn  up," 


CHAPTER  CIV. 

THE  ESCORT— THE  TRIAL. 

"  MARSEILLES  at  last ! "  exclaimed  Dick  Harvey,  as  the 
train  came  to  a  standstill. 

"  I  thought  we  were  never  to  end  our  journey,"  said 
little  Emily. 

However,  they  quickly  got  clear  of  the  railway  station, 
engaged  apartments  at  an  hotel,  and  then,  without  waiting 
to  eat  or  drink,  made  their  way  towards  the  gaol. 

"  I  wonder  what  house  that  is  with  the  Union  Jack  flying 
over  it,"  said  Mrs.  Harkaway,  as  they  passed  along  a  street 
near  the  harbour. 

u  The  British  consulate  very  likely,"  said  her  husband 
«  We  had  better  call  there." 


238  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

But  the  consul  was  not  at  home. 

"  Do  you  know  where  he  is  gone  ?  "  asked  Harvey  of  the 
servant. 

"  Why,  sir,  there  are  some  Englishmen  to  be  tried  to-day 
for  coining,  and  he  is  gone  to  watch  the  case." 

"  To-day  ? " 

"Yes,  sir;  in  fact,  the  trial  will  commence  in  ten  minutes," 
replied  the  man,  after  consulting  his  watch. 

"  Where  does  the  trial  take  place  ? " 

"  The  second  turning  on  the  left,  sir.  The  hall  of  justice 
is  a  large  building  just  round  the  corner." 

"  Come  along,  then,"  said  Harkaway ;  "  there  is  no  time 
to  lose." 

They  hurried  along  the  street  at  a  rate  that  made  the  French 
people  stare. 

Paquita  was  the  first  of  the  party  to  turn  the  corner,  and 
she  had  no  sooner  done  so  than  she  exclaimed — 

"  There  they  are." 

And  running  between  a  file  of  soldiers,  threw  her  arms 
round  Harry  Girdwood's  neck.- 

Little  Emily  would  have  followed  her  example,  but  the 
officer  in  charge  of  the  escort  would  not  permit  any  such 
irregular  conduct,  and  Paquita  was  compelled  to  rejoin  her 
friends. 

"  Hurrah,  dad  !  "  exclaimed  young  Jack  ;  "  I  knew  you 
would  turn  up  in  time.  And,  mamma,  how  pale  you  are 
looking." 

"  Can  you  wonder  at  it,  my  boy,  considering  the  anxiety 
we  have  all  suffered  ? " 

"  Mr.  Mole,  Mr.  Mole,"  exclaimed  Dick  Harvey,  shaking 
his  head,  "  I  am  surprised  indeed  to  hear  that  you  have 
taken  to  counterfeit  coining." 

"  Harvey,  this  is  really  no  joking  matter,"  replied  Mole. 

"  No,  it  will  be  no  joke  when  you  are  chained  to  the  oar 
in  one  of  those  galleys  down  in  the  harbour." 

"  Stand  back,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  if  you  please,"  ex- 
claimed the  officer  commanding  the  escort.  "  I  cannot 
allow  any  communication  with  my  prisoners." 

So  they  were  obliged  to  keep  at  a  distance. 

At  that  moment  a  portly,  elderly  gentleman,  who  had 
been  watching  the  scene,  came  up,  saying — 

"  Have  I  the  honour  of  addressing  Mr.  Harkaway  ? " 

"  That  is  my  name,  sir." 


HIS  BOY  TINKER. 


239 


"  I  am  the  English  consul" 

Our  old  hero  at  once  seized  him  by  the  hand,  saying — 

"  Sir,  words  are  powerless  to  express  how  grateful  I  am 
for  your  interference  on  behalf  of  my  boy." 

"  Don't  mention  it,  sir,  I  only  did  as  I  am  instructed  to 
do  in  all  such  cases." 

"  But  about  the  trial ;  what  chance  does  that  young  scape- 
grace stand  ?  " 

"  There  is  very  little  doubt  that  he  will  be  acquitted,  as 
we  have  the  best  of  evidence  in  his  favour.  But  come 
along,  sir,  let  us  get  into  court." 

The  consul  led  the  way  into  the  hall  of  justice,  and  placed 
the  Harkaway  party  among  the  audience  in  such  a  position 
that  they  could  see  all  that  was  going  on,  without  being 
conspicuous  themselves. 

Then  they  waited  patiently  till  the  judge  arrived. 
****** 

While  our  young  hero's  father  and  friends  were  thus 
entering  Marseilles,  two  people  were  trying  to  leave  that 
city. 

These  were  Herbert  Murray  and  his  friend  Chivey. 

"  There  ain't  no  use  in  stoppin'  'ere,  guv'nor,"  the  latter 
had  said.  **  We  can  see  by  the  papers  what  they  gets." 

"  You  are  right,  Chivey ;  we  will  get  away  for  a  time." 

"  We  can  come  back  an'  see  'em  when  they  are  fairly 
fixed,  you  know." 

"  Well,  pack  up,  and  we'll  just  take  a  trip  to  Paris  for  a 
week." 

Their  portmanteaus  were  quickly  got  ready,  and  a  vehicle 
was  engaged  to  take  them  to  the  railway  station. 

But  when  they  alighted,  and  were  about  to  take  their 
tickets,  a  very  polite  police  officer  tapped  Murray  on  the 
shoulder,  and  said — 

"  I  much  regret  to  have  to  ask  monsieur  to  postpone  his 
journey." 

"What?" 

"  I  must  request  Monsieur  to  defer  his  visit  to  Paris  till 
after  the  trial  of  the  English  coiners." 

u  What  has  that  to  do  with  me  ?  " 

"  The  judge  may  desire  your  presence,  monsieur  -.  he  may 
wish  to  hear  your  evidence." 

'•  Nonsense!" 

"  It  may  be ;  but  I  am  compelled  to  say  that  I  cannot 


84o  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

permit  you  to  leave  Marseilles  to-day,  and  I  must  request 
you  to  accompany  me  back  to  the  hall  of  justice." 

"  We  are  prisoners,  then  ?  " 

"  By  no  means.  Only  the  law  requires  your  presence,  and 
the  law,  you  know,  must  be  obeyed,  monsieur  ?  " 

Chivey  had  not  taken  part  in  the  conversation,  but  had 
been  looking  round  for  a  good  chance  of  escaping. 

"  You,  of  course,  will  accompany  your  friend  ? "  said  the 
detective,  tapping  him  on  the  shoulder. 

"  Must,  I  suppose,"  responded  Chivey,  who  noticed  sev. 
eral  other  policeman  were  loitering  about  the  station. 

So,  with  a  very  bad  grace,  the  two  intending  excursionists 
walked  back  to  the  hall  of  justice. 

The  English  prisoners  had  already  been  brought  into  the 
hall,  and  the  trial  had  commenced. 

It  certainly  seemed  at  first  that  our  young  hero  had  got 
himself  into  a  bad  fix,  for  the  evidence  was  much  against 
him. 

The  police  had  captured  them  in  Lenoir's  workshop. 

They  had  been  seen  in  conversation  with  him  not  only  there, 
but  at  the  cafe*  the  police  had  been  warned  of  their  nefarious 
doings  and  so  forth. 

"  Have  you  any  witnesses  to  call,  prisoner  ? "  ask  the  judge, 
addressing  young  Jack. 

"  Yes,  Monsieur  le  Juge ;  and  the  first  of  them  is  Pierre 
Lenoir.  Let  him  be  called." 

"  What  folly  is  this  ? "  demanded  the  judge,  sternly. 

"  I  ask  that  Pierre  Lenoir  shall  be  summoned  to  give  evi- 
dence," repeated  young  Jack,  who  had  been  told  by  Dela- 
marre  what  line  of  defence  to  adopt. 

"  Do  you  think  he  will  respond  if  called  ?  " 

"  If  he  does  not  respond,  I  shall  derive  no  benefit  from 
his  evidence." 

"  Let  Pierre  Lenoir  be  called,"  said  the  judge,  rather 
angrily. 

And  Pierre  Lenoir  was  called  by  an  officer  of  the  court. 

"  Here  1 " 

The  answer  was  clear  and  distinct. 

And  the  next  monent  Pierre  Lenior,  escorted  by  two 
gensdarmes,  marched  into  the  court-room. 

Chivey  touched  Murray  on  the  arm,  and  both  had  an  idea 
of  sneaking  away. 

But  the  polite  and  attentive  officer  who  had  brought  them 


fflS  BOY  TINKER.  24, 

back  from  the  railway,  stood  in  the  doorway,  and  was  evi- 
dently watching  them. 

In  fact,  he  spoke  to  them. 

"Things  are  getting  interesting,  gentlemen,"  said  he;  *  it 
was  worth  losing  a  train  to  see  such  a  dramatic  trial  as  this 
promises  to  be." 

"  Interferes  with  our  business,  rather." 

"  Not  so  much,  monsieur.    But  hush  ! " 

The  evidence  of  Pierre  Lenoir  was  then  taken. 

The  public  prosecutor  objected  at  first  to  his  evidence ;  but 
it  was  urged  by  the  counsel  for  the  defence  that  although 
accused  of  many  offences,  he  was  at  present  convicted  of  none, 
and  therefore  was  entitled  to  full  credence. 

"  Your  name  is  Pierre  Lenoir?  "  asked  Jack's  counsel 

"It  is." 

"  Do  you  know  the  prisoners  ?  " 

«  But  slightly." 

"  Say  when  you  met  them.  ** 

"  I  met  them  at  my  own  house  where  they  came  by  invi- 
tation to  see  some  specimens  of  my  skill  as  a  medal  en- 
graver." 

"  Did  those  Englishmen  assist  you  in  any  way  to  pass 
counterfeit  coin?" 

"  Neither  of  those  Englishmen ;  but  that  man  did." 

And  turning  half  round,  he  pointed  at  the  wretched  Murray, 
alias  Markby. 

And  at  the  same  time  the  affable  police  officer  drew  nearer, 
smiling  more  blandly  than  ever. 

"  'Tis  false ! "  shrieked  the  wretched  Murray. 

"  The  public  must  maintain  silence  in  the  court,"  said  the 
judge. 

"  It's  a  base  lie  !  "  exclaimed  Murray. 

"  The  officer  of  the  court  will  arrest  the  disorderly  person." 

The  smiling  gendarme  at  once  swooped  down  on  his  prey. 

"That  man,"  continued  Lenoir,  "not  only  passed  bad 
money  for  me,  but  he  persuaded  me  that  the  prisoners  would 
do  so  also.  But  when  I  introduced  myself  and  tried  to  get 
them  to  join  me,  they  absolutely  refused." 

The  public  prosecutor  tried  in  vain  to  shake  his  story,  but 
he  positively  adhered  to  every  word  he  had  spoken. 

Then  Harkaway  senior  was  called  upon,  and  he  in  con- 
junction with  the  banker  proved  that  there  was  no  need  what- 
ever for  the  prisoners  to  commit  such  an  offence,  as  by  sim- 
16 


242  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

ply  signing  his  name  young  Jack  could  draw  far  more  francs 
than  the  judge's  yearly  salary  amounted  to. 

The  counsel  for  the  defence  then  challenged  the  prose- 
cution to  produce  any  evidence  that  the  prisoners  had 
passed  bad  money,  and  the  public  prosecutor  was  obliged  to 
confess  that  he  could  not  do  so. 

Whereupon  the  judge  remarked  that  the  prosecution  had 
utterly  failed,  and  directed  the  prisoners  to  be  discharged. 

But  Lenoir  and  Murray  were  directed  to  be  kept  in  sepa- 
rate cells  till  they  could  be  tried,  and  Chivey  was  ordered 
like  accommodation. 

And  having  now  plenty  of  time  for  reflection,  Herbert 
Murray  sat  with  irons  on  his  arms  and  legs,  thinking  dole- 
fully over  the  past,  and  thinking  whether,  after  all,  honesty 
would  not  have  proved  the  best  policy. 


CHAPTER  CV. 

A  LAST  VIEW  OF  MURRAY  AND  CHIVEY. 

"  HURRAH,  dad !  " 

"  Hurrah,  my  boy  !  Now,  then,  one  and  all.  Hip,  hip, 
hip " 

"  Hurrah  I " 

The  peal  that  burst  from  the  throats  of  the  reunited  Eng- 
lish party  fairly  astonished  the  assembled  crowd  of  citizens 
who  were  flocking  out  of  the  hall  of  justice. 

And  then  such  a  shaking  of  hands  and  kissing ! 

The  latter  form  of  insanity  at  length  became  infectious,  and 
the  two  black  imps  Tinker  and  Bogey  insisted  on  pressing  a 
chaste  salute  on  Mr.  Mole's  coy  lips,  to  the  intense  amuse- 
ment of  the  bystanders. 

"  Get  out,  you  black  devils  !  "  exclaimed  he. 

"'  Why,  Massa  Mole,  we  been  good  friends  dis  long  time 
in  dat  'ere  ole  prison  ;  you  isn't  a-gwine  to  turn  round  on  de 
poor  niggahs  now  we's  got  out." 

"  Get  away.  Never  mind,  don't  get  away  ;  I'm  not  proud — 
hurrah  !  " 

In  his  excitement  Mr.  Mole  threw  his  battered  hat  a  great 
height  into  the  air,  but  slipping  while  so  doing,  he  sat  down 
upon  the  pavement  rather  violently. 


BIS  BOY  TINKER.  243 

"  Sac-r-r-r-ri  !  seize  that  old  villain !  " 

The  indignant  command  came  from  a  mounted  officer  in 
charge  of  a  considerable  body  of  soldiers. 

While  directing  the  movements  of  his  men,  drawn  sword  in 
hand,  down  came  Mole's  chapeau  on  the  point  of  the  deadly 
weapon,  which  went  through  the  crown,  and  the  lining  get- 
ting entangled  with  the  hilt,  it  could  not  be  very  readily 
moved. 

And,  of  course,  the  French  spectators  at  once  began  laugh- 
ing to  see  the  rather  absurd  situation  of  the  officer. 

Mole  would  certainly  have  been  dragged  off  again  had  not 
the  British  consul  once  more  interposed. 

"  Monsieur  le  Colonel,  I  hasten  to  assure  you  that  it  was 
an  accident,"  he  said. 

"  I  will  not  be  insulted  by  accident :  arrest  him  ! " 

"  But  consider,  sir,  you  have  no  crime  to  urge  against  him." 

"Bah,  what  care  I?" 

"  He  will  apologise." 

**  Of  course  he  will,"  said  Harvey,  thinking  it  time  to  in- 
terpose. "  Here,  where  are  you,  Mr.  Mole  ?  " 

"  Down  here,  sitting  on  the  other  end  of  me,"  responded 
the  ex-tutor  in  very  doleful  accents. 

"  An  apology ! "  said  the  excited  officer,  who  had  dis- 
mounted, and  was  brandishing  his  weapon  as  though  about 
to  sacrifice  Mole. 

But  poor  Mole  seemed  altogether  too  confused  to  say  the 
soothing  words  required,  so  the  consul  again  interfered. 

u  Really,  Monsieur  le  Colonel,  this  poor  gentleman  seems 
to  have  sustained  some  severe  injury.  You  will  see  he  has 
lost  both  legs  in  a  series  of  heroic  actions,  the  particulars  of 
which  I  have  not  time  to  give  you,  but  accept  my  assurance 
that  the  affair  of  the  hat  was  entirely  an  accident." 

"  Lost  legs  in  action  !  Ah,  then  it  becomes  my  duty  to 
apologise  for  the  hasty  language  I  have  used  to  a  brave 
soldier/' 

As  things  were  changing  a  little,  Mole  thought  it  time  to 
become  conscious,  and  with  the  aid  of  Tinker  and  Bogey, 
he  struggled  to  his  feet. 

"  Monsieur,"  continued  the  officer,  "  I  withdraw  my  words." 

"  Enough  said,  my  dear  sir,"  responded  Mole ;  a  let  the 
matter  drop,  I  pray." 

The  officer  gave  a  military  salute,  restored  the  perforated 
hat  to  its  owner,  and  rejoined  his  men. 


244  YOUNG  /A  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

"  Really  imprisonment  seems  to  have  no  effect  on  you,  Mr. 
Mole,"  said  Harvey ;  "  you  begin  your  old  pranks  the  mo- 
ment you  are  released." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ? " 

"  Why,  you  pass  yourself  off  as  an  old  soldier." 

"  No,  it  was  our  good  friend  the  consul." 

"  Well,  you  allowed  the  colonel  to  deceive  himself." 

"  It's  all  the  result  of  my  really  martial  aspect,  my  dear 
boy." 

And  Mole  hobbled  on,  trying  to  sustain  his  military  ap- 
pearance. 

******* 

Our  friends  did  not  at  once  leave  Marseilles. 

They  were  informed  that  perhaps  they  might  be  required 
to  give  evidence  against  Murray,  so  they  took  up  their 
residence  in  the  best  hotel  of  the  place  and  waited,  the 
elders  of  the  party  being  perfectly  content  now  that  the 
youngsters  had  regained  their  liberty. 

However,  as  events  turned  out,  they  were  not  called  upon 
to  attend  the  trial  of  the  shipowner's  son,  as  Monsieur 
Hocquart  Clermont  Delamarre  and  his  assistants  managed 
to  pile  up  quite  sufficient  proof  to  convince  the  judge  of 
Herbert  Murray's  guilt. 

He,  Lenoir,  and  Chivey,  who  certainly  was  not  so  deeply 
involved  as  his  master,  were  sentenced  to  serve  ten  years 
each  in  the  galleys. 

Lenoir's  original  sentence  was  fifteen  years,  but  the 
promised  intercession  of  the  consul  was  effectual  in  short- 
ening it  to  ten. 

There  was,  however,  another  trial,  at  which  young  Jack 
and  Harry  Girdwood  were  requested  to  attend,  and  the 
prisoner  in  this  case  was  the  gaoler  to  whom  they  had  en- 
trusted their  letters  to  the  consul. 

He  being  clearly  convicted  of  receiving  bribes  from  prison- 
ers, was  sentenced  to  two  years' imprisonment,  and  so  retires 
from  the  scene. 

Young  Jack,  his  parents,  Harry  Girdwood,  Harvey,  little 
Emily,  and  Paquita  were  taking  a  walk  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  harbour  one  morning,  when  they  became  aware  of  a 
very  dismal-looking  procession  coming  down  the  road  from 
the  prison. 

First  of  all  came  half  a  dozen  soldiers,  trailing  their 
rifles,  which  were  evidently  loaded  and  ready  for  instant  use* 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  24- 

Then,  in  single  file,  about  a  yard  behind  each  other,  and 
every  man  with  his  right  leg  attached  by  a  ring  to  a  long 
chain  that  extended  the  entire  length  of  the  party,  came  ten 
men  clad  in  garments  of  very  coarse  serge,  and  with  closely- 
cropped  heads. 

The  instant  he  saw  them  in  the  distance,  young  Jack 
guessed  what  it  meant,  and  pointed  the  gang  out  to  the 
others. 

"  Let  us  get  awav  if  we  can,"  said  he. 

"Why '"asked  Harvey. 

"  Because  it  will  look  as  though  we  came  here  simply  to 
gloat  over  their  disgrace,"  replied  Jack. 

"  Right,  my  boy." 

But  there  was  no  way  of  avoiding  them,  as  there  was  no 
turning  out  of  the  street,  and  all  the  house  doors  were  closed, 
so  they  were  compelled  to  see  all. 

First  of  all  came  seven  of  the  lowest-looking  ruffians  in 
creation,  villains  whose  countenances  were  expressive  of 
nothing  but  brutality  and  vice  ;  the  eighth  was  Chivey,  whose 
cheeks  bore  traces  of  tears,  and  the  ninth  was  Pierre  Lenoir, 
who  walked  erect  and  proud  as  Lucifer,  except  when  he 
made  a  half  turn  about  as  though  he  would  like  to  strangle 
Herbert  Murray,  who  walked  with  tottering  steps  at  the  end 
of  the  chain. 

"  Poor  fellows ! "  said  Mrs.  Harkaway. 

"  They  deserve  it,"  exclaimed  her  husband  and  Harvey, 
simultaneously.  "  They  tried  to  get  our  boys  the  very  pun- 
ishment that  has  overtaken  them." 

Our  friends,  however,  had  seen  enough,  and  did  not  care 
to  witness  what  followed. 

If  they  had  gone  inside  the  harbour  gates,  they  might 
have  seen  three  or  four  very  long  sharp-bowed  vessels  moored 
to  the  quay  or  lying  at  anchor  a  little  way  out. 

Neither*  mast  nor  sail  had  these  vessels,  but  from  each 
side  projected  a  dozen  or  more  of  gigantic  oars  larger  than 
those  used  by  Thames  bargemen. 

Had  they  gone  down  to  the  harbour  they  would  presentlv 
have  seen  chained  up,  two  of  them  to  each  oar,  but  with 
their  feet  so  far  at  liberty  that  they  could  move  backwards 
and  forwards  three  paces. 

Then  they  would  have  heard  the  word  of  command  given, 
and  would  have  seen  the  poor  slaves  tugging  away  at  the 
till  the  huge  craft  was  sweeping  rapidly  out  to  sea,  while 


2  46  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

the  galley-master  walking  up  and  down  between  the  two 
rows  of  oarsmen,  gave  blows  of  his  whip  on  the  right  hand 
or  the  left  when  he  saw  a  man  flagging,  or  an  oar  that  did 
not  swing  in  unison  with  the  rest. 

Such  was  the  fate  to  which  the  career  of  crime  had  brought 
the  son  of  the  once  respected  shipowner  Munay. 

Slavery  from  morn  till  night,  beneath  a  broiling  sun,  or 
exposed  to  cold,  rain,  and  hail,  the  coarsest  of  black  bread 
and  lentil  pottage,  formed  his  scanty  meal ;  his  associates 
the  lowest  type  of  humanity. 

And  even  over  and  above  such  a  hard  lot  there  fell  upon 
his  heart  the  craven  fear  some  day  that  Lenoir,  who  was 
chained  to  the  next  oar,  would  break  loose  and  kill  him. 

Many  would  have  preferred  death  to  such  slavery,  but 
Herbert  Murray  feared  to  die. 

"  Hollo,  Englishman,  faster ! "  the  galley-master  would 
shout.  And  then  his  whip  or  cane  would  sharply  visit  poor 
Murray's  shoulders. 

And  the  chuckling  voice  of  Lenoir  would  be  heard,  ex- 
claiming— 

"  Ah,  traitor !  this  is  nothing  to  what  you  will  suffer  when 
I  have  my  chance  for  revenge." 


CHAPTER  CVL 

TERRIBLE    RAILWAY    ACCIDENT. 

THREE  days  after  Murray  and  Chivey  embarked  on  their 
dreary  voyage  the  Harkaway  party  quitted  Marseilles. 

The  waiter  and  the  diver,  so  long  young  Jack's  companions 
in  adventure,  preferred  remaining  at  Marseilles. 

They  had  no  home  ties,  and  had  so  long  been  accustomed 
to  a  wandering  Continental  life,  that  they  had  no  great 
desire  to  settle  down  quietly  in  England. 

However,  Harkaway  senior  made  them  a  handsome  pres- 
ent each,  and  he  also  presented  Monsieur  Hocquart  Cler- 
mont  Delamarre  with  a  very  substantial  proof  of  his  esteem 
and  gratitude,  and  the  detective  was  further  gratified  by 
receiving  from  the  two  young  ladies,  Paquita  and  Emily,  a 
handsomely-mounted  carte  de  visits  portrait. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  347 

"  And  now  for  home ! "  exclaimed  our  young  hero. 

"  You  will  be  sorry  when  you  get  there,  won't  you  ?  "  said 
Emily. 

"No,  dear;  why  should  I  be?" 

"  Because  in  England  you  can't  go  on  as  you  have  been 
doing,  running  away  with  fair  Circass " 

There  was  nobody  looking,  so  Jack  took  the  liberty  of  cut- 
ting the  reproach  short  with  a  kiss. 

"  You  must  not  say  any  thing  more  about  that,  dear  Emily ; 
and,  after  all,  I  don't  think  you  would  have  approved  of  my 
leaving  her  to  the  mercy  of  those  Turks." 

4i  That  I  should  not,  Jack." 

The  youth  then  handed  his  young  sweetheart  into  one  of 
the  vehicles  in  waiting,  and  off  they  started  for  the  railway, 
where  they  found  they  had  to  wait  ten  minutes. 

To  occupy  the  time  they  strolled  up  and  down  the  plat- 
form. 

Suddenly  Harry  Gird  wood  exclaimed — 

"  Why,  where  is  Mr.  Mole  ?  Did  he  come  in  your  car- 
riage, Jack  ? " 

**  No ;  I  thought  he  was  with  you.** 

"  Left  behind,  by  Jove ! "  exclaimed  Harvey. 

"  Serve  him  right  if  I  left  him  behind  entirely,"  said  Hark- 
away  senior,  rather  angrily. 

He  was  on  the  point  of  sending  one  of  the  porters  back 
to  the  hotel,  when  Mr.  Mole  appeared. 

Now  there  were  two  things  that  had  delayed  him. 

One  was  that  on  the  very  morning  Mr.  Mole  had  mounted 
a  new  pair  of  artificial  legs  made  by  the  very  best  surgical 
instrument  maker  in  Marseilles. 

Some  time  had  been  taken  over  the  proper  adjustment  of 
these. 

For  the  second  reason— Mr.  Mole  had  discovered  that  the 
hotel  cellars  contained  some  excellent  brandy,  and  he  had 
been  taking  a  parting  glass  with  the  Irish  diver  before  com- 
mencing his  journey. 

And  as  he  uow  made  his  appearance  on  the  railway  plat- 
form, he  was  any  thing  but  steady  on  his  new  legs. 

"  Better  late  than  never,  Mr.  Mole,"  said  Harvey. 

"  I  am  not  late." 

"  Yes,  sir.     Two  minutes  more,  and  the  train  will  be  here." 

An  engine  was  in  fact  at  that  moment  shunting  some 
carriages  which  were  to  be  attached  to  the  train. 


248  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  *tfD 

Mr.  Mole  turned  on  hearing  the  noise  of  the  approaching 
Jocomotive. 

But  being,  as  aforesaid,  slightly  unsteady  on  his  legs,  he 
fell. 

Fell  right  across  the  metals. 

"  Oh !  help  I  "  he  cried. 

But  before  anyone  could  stir,  the  engine  was  upon 
him. 

The  porters  shouted,  the  ladies  screamed  with  fright. 

"  Oh,  Heaven  !  is  it  not  horrible  ? "  exclaimed  a  French- 
man.  "  Did  you  not  hear  the  bones  crash  as  the  wheels 
went  over  his  legs  ? " 

"  Over  his  legs,"  shouted  Harvey.  "  Ha,  ha !  if  that  is 
all,  it  does  not  matter  much." 

The  engine  stopped,  and  Mole  was  rescued  from  his 
perilous  position. 

He  had  fainted,  but  a  glass  of  water  restored  him. 

"  Are  you  hurt,  old  man  ? "  asked  Dick. 

"  No ;  I  think  not.     It's  only  my  legs,  nothing  else." 

"  Great  Heaven,  what  a  narrow  escape  !  " 

"  So  it  is ;  but  here  is  a  nuisance,  both  my  legs  cut  clean 
off,  six  inches  above  the  ankle." 

"  Here,  porter,  put  this  gentleman  in  a  first-class  carriage," 
said  Harkaway  senior. 

"  But,  monsieur,  he  must  be  taken  to  the  hospital ;  the 
surgeon  is  close  at  hand." 

"  Doctor  be  hanged !  This  gentleman  must  go  to  Paris 
by  the  next  train." 

The  porters,  being  evidently  unwilling  to  touch  Mr.  Mole, 
Harkaway  said — 

"  Here,  lend  a  hand,  old  man." 

"  All  right,"  responded  Harvey. 

The  pair  of  them  immediately  hoisted  Mr.  Mole  into  the 
carriage,  the  others  took  their  seats,  the  engineer  blew  his 
whistle,  and  off  they  went. 

To  complete  the  horror  of  the  spectators,  who  admired 
Mole's  fortitude,  and  loathed  the  apparent  barbarity  of  his 
friends,  as  the  train  was  moving  off,  Harvey  was  plainly 
seen  to  cut  off  the  old  gentleman's  shattered  limbs,  and 
pitch  them  into  some  empty  goods  waggons  that  were  going 
in  another  direction. 

"  What  horrid  barbarians  !  "  was  the  general  exclamation 
of  the  bewildered  spectators  of  the  strange  scene. 


01S  BOY  TUfKEM. 

pon  hare  made  of  me  certainly,1* 
at  his  curtailed 


^•^•c,  mmrmttK  uvwu  mt.  jua  >•!•!•  M  Kga- 

"  Your  own  fan*,  Mr.  Mole,"  responded  Harvey. 

"Lucky  it  was  not  your  head,  Mr.  Mole,"  saa 
Jack. 

"  You  are  aD  against  me,  I  see,  but  it  does  not  matter." 

So  saving.  Mofe  took  out  his  pocket  flask  and  was  about 
to  refresh  hhndC. 

But  Harkaway  senior,  stretching  out  Ins  hand,  took  the 
flask. 

-  No,  Mr,  Mole;  if  you  have  any  more,  I  fear  we  shall 
have,  a  move  serious  accident.  So  not  a  drop  tiH  the  lu^l 
time  we  stop." 

is  a  mafltrarn,  and  only  stops  about  every  two 


"And  I  am  quite  sure  yon  can 

that  little  time.** 

"Wen,  I  suppose  I  may  smoke  then  ?' 
•-Certainly;  you  shatt  have  one  of  my  bat  iqnnas." 
Mr.  Mole 'took  the  weed,  and  puffed  away  rather  sulkfly. 
They  had  got  about  eight  mill  11  turn  MaiwiBr*  when  sud- 

denly  the  engint  ilairiMHl  speed,  and  the  train  drew  up  at 

i  ..::.-:  : :  ii-:  it  _:i:: :  ~. 
"What  does  this  mean?  "said  Harvey.    "We  ought  not 

'.'.    -  '.  '  1    ".  r  "  r . 

«TMs  is  our  first  stopping  place,  however,  so  IH  tumble 
you  for  my  flask,  according  to  promise,"  said  Mok,  whh  a 

Harkaway  handed  it  over  and  was  settling  back  again 
hen  he  heard  a  police  official  asking— 

"Where  is  the  grnlkman  who  was  ran  over  at  Mar- 
seflles  r  " 

"Here," said  Harkaway. 

The  gendarme  ran  to  the  spot,  and  to  his  i 
saw  d/^ctim  of  the  accident  in  the  ad    ' 
Aink  from  his  brandy  flask  whfle  his  left 


•What  do  joo  want?"  demanded  Mole. 
-Tbe  officials  at  Marseilles,  unable  to  stop  the  tram, 
telegraphed  to  me  to  see  that  yon  had  proper  medical 


Ha,  ha.  ha!  look  here,  old  boy ;  I  always  cany  my 
physic.    Taste  it," 


250  YOUNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

The  officer  took  the  flask,  and  finding  that  the  smell  was 
familiar,  applied  it  to  his  lips. 

"  The  fact  is,"  said  Harkaway,  "  the  gentleman  was  wear- 
ing wooden  legs,  and  they  only  were  damaged." 

"  Indeed ;  then  you  think  that  you  are  able  to  proceed  on 
your  journey,  sir  ?  " 

"Yes,  if  you  will  leave  me  some  of  my  medicine." 

The  gendarme  bowed,  handed  back  the  flask,  and  the 
train  rolled  away. 


CHAPTER  CVII. 

A  DUEL. 

"  PARIS  at  last,"  exclaimed  Harvey. 

"  That's  a  good  job,  for  I  am  tired  of  sitting,  and  want  to 
Stretch  my  legs ;  don't  you,  Mr.  Mole  ? "  said  young  Jack. 

"  Don't  be  ridiculous,  Jack,"  replied  Mr.  Mole. 

Harkaway  senior,  who  had  been  looking  out  of  the  win- 
dow, drew  in  his  head  and  said — 

"  Well,  Mr.  Mole,  you  are  in  a  nice  fix." 

«*  How  ? " 

"  I  don't  see  any " 

"  Any  what  ?  " 

"  Any  cabs." 

«The " 

"  Don't  swear." 

"  My  dear  Mr.  Harkaway,  now  if  you  were  without  legs, 
would  not  you  swear  ?  " 

"  Can't  say,  having  the  proper  number  of  pins." 

"  You'll  have  to  walk,"  said  Harvey.  "  There's  not  a  cab 
in  the  station." 

"  But  how  can  I  walk  ? " 

"  Don't  you  remember  the  hero  in  the  ballad  of  Chevy 
Chase?" 

"Who  was  he?" 

"  The  song  says  Witherington,  but  we  will  call  him  Mole. 

" '  For  Mole,  indeed,  my  heart  is  woe, 

As  one  in  doleful  dumps ; 
For  when  his  feet  were  cut  away, 
He  walked  upon  his  stumps/" 


ffIS  BOY  TIXKER. 


251 


By  this  time  the  train  had  stopped,  and  aD  the  party  got 
out,  except  Mole. 

As  Harkaway  had  said,  there  was  no  vehicle  in  the  station 
nor  outside  of  it,  so  Mr.  Mole  was  obliged  to  remain  till  his 
friends  could  hit  upon  some  plan  for  removing  him. 

A  porter  was  the  first  to  make  a  suggestion. 

"  An  artificial  limb  maker  lives  opposite,  monsieur,"  said 
he. 

"Ah!" 

"  If  I  carried  monsieur  over,  he  might  have  some — ah — . 
substitutes  fitted  on." 

"  A  capital  idea ! n  exclaimed  Harvey ;  "  over  with  him." 
And  before  Mole  could  remonstrate,  he  was  hoisted  to  the 
porter  s  shoulders,  and  trotted  across  the  street. 

Great  was  the  joy  of  the  Parisian  gamins  at  having  such  a 
sight  provided  for  their  amusement. 

Mole,  however,  bravely  bore  the  chaff,  half  of  which  he 
did  not  understand. 

The  maker  of  artificial  limbs  soon  fitted  poor  Mole  with  a 
pair  of  legs. 

But  alas! 

No  sooner  had  he  stood  upon  them  than  his  friends  burst 
oat  in  a  loud  laugh. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you  ?  "  demanded  Mr.  Mole,  who 
felt  inclined  to  stand  on  his  dignity  as  well  as  on  his  new  legs. 

"Ha,ha,hal" 

"I  wonder  you  don't  remember  what  Goldsmith  says," 
continued  Mole. 

"  What  does  he  say,  Mr.  Mole  ?  " 

"  Don't  you  remember  that  line  about '  the  loud  laugh  that 
speaks  the  vacant  mind.'  I  fear  your  mind  must  be  very 
vacant,  Mr.  Harvey." 

"  He  had  you  there,  Uncle  Dick,"  said  young  Jack. 

"Pooh!     But  look  at  his  legs." 

"  Ha,  ha,  ha  I "  laughed  young  Jack  in  turn. 

Mr.  Mole's  trousers,  it  win  be  recollected,  had  been  cut 
away  below  the  knees  immediately  after  his  railway  accident, 
and  now  he  stood  in  a  parr  of  nicely-varnished  boots,  above 
which  could  be  seen  the  various  springs  and  hinges  of  his 
mechanical  limbs. 

The  trouser  legs  were  not  longer  in  proportion  than  a 
small  boy's  knickerbockers. 

By  this  time,  however,  a  cab  or  two  had  turned  up,  and, 


252  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HA  KKA  WA  Y  AND 

the   ladies  having  been  fetched  from  the  railway   waiting- 
room,  the  whole  party  proceeded  to  one  of  the  many  good 

hotels  Paris  possesses. 

****** 

The  third  evening  after  their  arrival,  young  Jack  and 
Harry  Girdwood  strolled  out  together. 

They  no  doubt  would  have  enjoyed  the  company  of  the 
two  girls,  but  little  Emily  and  Paquita  had  been  roving  about 
the  town  all  day  long,  and  were  too  tired  to  go  out  that  even- 
ing. 

"  What  is  this  place,  Jack  ?  "  asked  Harry,  as  they  both 
paused  in  front  of  a  narrow,  but  brilliantly-lighted  doorway. 

"  A  shooting  gallery,  I  fancy." 

"  Shall  we  go  in  ? " 

"  Certainly ;  but  I  don't  fancy  the  French  are  very  great 
*  shootists,'  as  the  Yankees  say." 

"  All  the  more  fun,  perhaps." 

And  without  more  talk,  the  youngsters  walked  in. 

It  was  a  long  room,  divided  by  slight  partitions  into  four 
different  galleries,  and  at  the  end  of  each  of  these  was  a 
target  in  the  shape  of  a  doll. 

After  watching  others  for  a  time,  Harry  took  half  a  dozen 
shots  at  one  of  the  figures,  which  he  struck  four  times. 

Young  Jack  then  tried,  and  was  equally  successful. 

"  Good  shooting,  young  gentlemen,"  said  one  of  the  spec- 
tators, an  Englishman  ;  "  but  if  you  want  to  see  real  pistol 
practice,  look  at  this  Frenchman." 

And  he  pointed  to  a  tall,  dark  man  who  was  just  prepar- 
ing to  fire. 

The  target  he  had  before  him  was  no.t  a  little  doll  like  the 
others,  but  a  full-sized  lay  figure  dressed  in  black,  closely 
buttoned  up,  and  holding  in  its  hand  an  empty  pistol  pointed 
towards  the  live  shooter. 

"  He  is  a  noted  duellist,"  said  the  Englishman,  "  and  has 
killed  more  than  one  adversary." 

Jack  and  Harry  looked  at  him  with  considerable  curiosity, 
with  which  was  mixed  a  tinge  of  loathing. 

The  duellist  had  brought  his  own  pistols,  one  of  which  he 
carefully  loaded,  and  having  placed  himself  in  position, 
rapidly  aimed  and  fired. 

Instantly  the  lay  figure  showed  a  spot  of  white  on  its  black 
coat,  which,  after  all,  was  only  made  of  a  kind  of  paste  or 
varnish,  which  chipped  off  when  struck  by  the  bullet. 


ffIS  BOY  TINKER.  353 

"  Straight  to  the  heart,"  said  the  Englishman. 

"  That's  good  shooting,"  exclaimed  Harry  Girdwood. 

The  Frenchman  fired  again,  making  an  equally  good  shot. 

When  he  had  fired  ten,  young  Jack  for  the  first  time  broke 
•ilence. 

"  I  don't  believe  he  could  do  that  in  the  field  with  a  live 
adversary  and  a  loaded  pistol  opposite  him." 

The  Frenchman  again  pulled  the  trigger,  but  the  eleventh 
shot  flew  wide  of  the  mark. 

Almost  foaming  with  passion  at  having  missed  his  aim,  he 
dashed  the  weapon  to  the  ground. 

"  I  must  request  the  gentleman  who  spoke  to  stand  the 
test" 

"  With  great  pleasure,"  responded  Jack,  coolly. 

The  Frenchman  stared  at  the  speaker. 

"  Bah !  I  don't  fight  with  boys." 

"  Then  I  shall  proclaim  to  all  Paris  that  you  are  a  cur,  and 
try  to  back  out  of  a  quarrel  when  your  challenge  is  ac- 
cepted." 

"  Very  well,  then,  you  shall  die  in  the  morning.  Henri," 
— this  to  a  friend — "  arrange  with  the  English  boy's  second 
if  he  has  one  ;  if  he  has  not,  find  him  one." 

The  Englishman  who  had  previously  spoken  at  once 
stepped  forward  and  offered  his  services. 

"Although,"  said  he,"  I  should  much  prefer  to  see  this 
affair  settled  peacefully." 

**  I  am  entirely  in  your  hands,  sir,"  responded  Jack. 

And  he  retired  to  the  other  side  of  the  room. 

«*  Jack,  Jack  !  what  demon  possessed  you  to  get  into  such 


"  No  demon,  Harry,  but  some  of  my  father's  hot  blood 
He  was  always  very  prompt  to  accept  a  challenge." 

"  He  will  not  let  you  fight." 

"  He  will  not  know  till  it  is  settled.  Listen  to  me,  Harry, 
if  you  tell  him  or  anyone  else,  or  try  to  stop  the  plan  that 
my  second  may  propose,  I  swear  111  never  speak  to  you 
again." 

"  Harry,  we  have  both  of  us  faced  death  many  times,  and 
I  am  sure  I  am  not  going  to  turn  my  back  on  a  French- 
an." 

Poor  Harry  could  say  nothing  more. 
The  Englishman  rejoined  them. 


254  YOUNG  JACK  HARKAWAY  AND 

"  I  can't  get  that  fellow  to  accept  an  apology ' 

"  That's  right,"  interposed  Jack. 

His  second  looked  surprised  at  the  youth's  coolness,  and 
continued — 

"  So  I  must  parade  you  in  the  Bois  de  Boulogne  at  sun- 
rise. It's  about  an  hour's  drive." 

"  Where  shall  we  meet  you  ? " 

The  second  hesitated,  and  then  named  a  time  and  place. 

"  Now,"  said  Jack,  "  I  will  go  and  have  a  little  sleep  ;  not 
at  home,  but  somewhere  in  this  neighbourhood." 

They  went  to  a  respectable  hotel  close  by,  and  Jack,  hav- 
ing made  a  few  simple  arrangements  (including  a  message 
to  Emily),  in  case  of  being  killed,  laid  himself  on  his  bed, 
and  was  soon  slumbering  peacefully. 

*  *  *  *  *  * 

About  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after  the  sun  had  risen,  they 
were  all  upon  the  ground. 

Jack  and  Harry  with  their  second,  and  the  Frenchman 
with  his. 

There  was  also  a  surgeon  present. 

Little  time  was  lost. 

The  pistols  were  loaded,  according  to  previous  arrange- 
ment between  the  two  seconds,  with  a  lighter  charge  than 
usual,  so  that  Jack  might  possibly  escape  with  only  a  flesh 
wound  instead  of  having  a  hole  drilled  right  through  him. 

The  combatants  were  then  placed  half  facing  each  other, 
fifteen  paces  apart. 

"  There  is  a  grave  suspicion  afloat  that  your  adversary  has 
an  ugly  knack  of  pulling  the  trigger  half  a  second  too  soon," 
whispered  Jack's  second,  "  so  I  am  going  to  give  him  a  cau- 
tion." 

A  pistol  was  placed  in  the  hand  of  each,  and  then  Jack's 
second  spoke. 

"  Listen,  gentlemen.  You  will  fire  when  I  give  the  word 
three.  If  either  pulls  the  trigger  before  that  word  is  pro- 
nounced, it  will  be  murder." 

He  looked  at  the  Frenchman,  and  then  counted — 

"  One,  two,  three  !  " 

But  before  the  word  "  three  "  had  fully  passed  his  lips,  the 
Frenchman's  pistol  was  discharged. 

Young  Jack,  however,  prepared  for  such  a  trick,  had  just 
a  moment  before  turned  full  towards  him  and  stared  him  in 
the  face. 


HIS  BOY  TIXKER. 


=  .-*. 


This  manoca vre  was  entirety    in  1 1  ••M 

The  Frenchman's  unfair,  mm  dtimu  aim  was  disconcerted, 
and  his  bullet  •fciyled  harmlessly  past  our  hero's  ear. 

Jack  then  deliberately  levelled'  his  pistol  at  the  French- 
man,  who  trembled  violently,  and  ihufjul  every  symptom  of 
the  most  abject  terror. 

"I  thought  so,"  exclaimed  Jack.     -  A  vile  coward  as  well 


And  he  discharged  Ins  on  pbtal  in  the  air. 
"Why  did  you  not  shoot  the  villain  ? **  exclaimed  Harry 
Gird  wood,  the  mrgrtm,  and  Jack's  second  simultaneously. 

-  It  would  be  doing  him  too  much  honour,  gentlemen.    I 
leave  him  to  the  hangman." 

-  You  should  have  killed  him, "growkd  the  surgeon,  glanc- 
ing after  the  discomfited  duellist,  who  was  ^iwalring  off,  "n- 
attended  even  by  his  own  second. 

- 1  don't  feel  bloodthirsty  just  at  present,  and  I  have 
proved  the  words  that  gave  rise  to  the  challenge." 

*- That  is  true,  but  some  other  poor  devil  may  not  be  so 
locky." 

"  I  fancy  after  tbb  nxjrning's  e^rf  anyone  may  refuse  to 
go  out  with  him  without  fear  of  dishonour." 

*" 


True ;  that  is  one  good  thing. 

young  Jad 
himself  seared  by  the  collar  and  shaken  violently. 


They  re-entered  their  carriage  and  returned  to  Paris. 
Just  as  young  Jack  alighted  from  the  vehicle,  be  found 


Hi  r-r-ii  r.i«::".y. 

-Dad!" 

'Yon  young  rascal!*'  exclaimed  Harkaway  senior, 
-  where  have  yon  been  all  night  ?" 

<*  Why— I_I  arranged  to  go  out  early  in  the  morning  for 
a  drive  with  this  gentleman  and  Harry,  so  I  took  a  room  here 
at  this  hotel  so  as  to  be  dose  to  the  rendezvous." 

"That  is  the  truth,  but  not  all  the  truth.  Sir,  may  I  ask 
you  the  object  of  your  very  early  excursion  with  my 
son?" 

-  WeH,  sir,  the  fact  is,  this  young  gentleman  became  in- 
volved last  night  in  a  little  dfapute  which  necessitated  an 
exchange  of  pistol  shots,  and  your  son,  I  must  say,  behaved 
in  a  most  gallant  manner." 

-Not  touched,  Jack?" 

"No,  dad." 

"Did you  shoot  t'other  feBow?" 


256  YOUNG  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  No,  father  ;  I  only  shoot  game — human  or  brute.  I 
leave  gamekeepers  and  hangmen  to  exterminate  vermin." 

"  Well,  now,  cut  along  home.  Your  mother  is  in  no  end 
of  a  funk  about  you." 

****** 

So  Jack  went  home,  and,  having  explained  the  reason  of 
his  absence,  was  soon  forgiven  by  all,  except  little  Emily, 
who  boxed  his  ears,  declaring  it  was  evident  he  did  not  care 
about  her,  or  he  would  not  have  risked  his  life  in  such  a 
manner. 

Then  she  refused,  for  a  whole  hour,  to  speak  to  him  ;  at 
the  expiration  of  which  time  she  kissed  him,  and  asked  his 
pardon  for  having  shown  such  bad  temper. 

"  All  right,  Em.     You're  a  brick." 

"  Don't  talk  slang,  sir." 

****** 

That  same  evening  they  left  Paris,  and  at  an  early  hour 
the  next  morning  were  in  London. 


CHAPTER   CVIII. 

"  LAST  SCENE  OF  ALL,    THAT    ENDS    THIS    STRANGE,    EVENTFUL 
HISTORY." 

"  JACK." 

"  Yes,  father." 

"  What  do  you  think  you  are  going  to  be  ?  I  mean  what 
business  or  profession  ? " 

This  conversation  took  place  about  a  week  after  their  re- 
turn to  England. 

"  Would  you  like  to  be  a  doctor  or  a  lawyer,  or  become  a 
great  financier  in  the  City  ?  "  continued  Harkaway  senior. 

"  Neither  of  those,  thank  you.  I  have  been  too  much  used 
to  plenty  of  fresh  air  and  exercise  to  settle  down  to  an  in- 
door occupation  ;  the  sea  is  my  choice." 

"  It  is  not  your  mother's  choice,  so  you  may  just  give  up 
that  notion  at  once  and  for  ever." 

"  Well,  next  to  that  I  should  like  to  have  a  nice  compact 
farm  of  about  six  hundred  acres  in  a  part  of  the  country 
where  there  is  good  shooting,  hunting  and  fishing." 


fffS  BOY  TINKER.  ,57 

«  Ah,  that's  better." 

"  Then  we'll  consider  that  settled,  dad." 

"  Yes  ;  but  you  must  finish  your  education  first ;  that  has 
been  much  neglected." 

So  the  result  was  that  both  young  Jack  and  Harry  Gird- 
wood  were  sent  to  reside  for  a  year  with  a  clergyman,  who 
was  also  a  farmer,  and,  who  undertook,  while  improving 
their  general  education,  to  give  them  a  practical  knowledge 
of  agriculture. 

****** 

The  year  passed  away,  and  the  two  young  men  returned 
home  for  a  brief  holiday  before  settling  down,  for  Harry  was 
also  to  be  a  farmer,  Dick  Harvey  having  undertaken  to  put 
him  into  a  farm. 

They  were  sitting  at  breakfast  one  morning  when  two 
letters  were  brought,  both  with  foreign  postmarks. 

Harkaway  senior  opened  them. 

**  This  concerns  you,  my  dear,"  said  he  to  Paquita. 

"  How  so  ? "  asked  the  girl 

"  It  is  from  your  father.  And  you  must  prepare  to  hear 
bad  news.'' 

"  He  is  dead  !  he  is  dead  ! "  she  exclaimed,  bursting  into 
tears. 

When  some  time  had  passed,  she  was  calmed  sufficiently 
to  hear  the  letter  read. 

It  was  a  deathbed  letter,  in  which  the  writer  stated  that, 
remembering  the  noblehearted  Englishman,  Harkaway,  he 
appointed  him  sole  trustee  of  his  wealth,  to  be  given  as  a 
marriage  portion  to  Paquita. 

Documents  were  enclosed  to  put  Harkaway  in  possession 
of  the  writer's  riches,  and  he  concluded  by  praying  Heaven 
to  bless  his  daughter. 

A  postscript  was  added  in  a  different  hand. 

"  The  writer  of  this  died  on  the  4th  of  April  last,  the  daj 
after  he  signed  this  letter  and  the  enclosed  documents  whidi 
are  witnessed  by  me." 

"  ANTOXIO  DELAVAT,  Surgeon" 

Paquita's  grief  at  the  death  of  her  father  was  great,  but  it 
little  Emily  and  Mrs.  Harkaway  she  found  two  comforters, 
who  did  their  best  to  assuage  her  sorrows. 

*#»»«* 


258  YO  UNG  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

But  the  other  letter. 

"  Why,  this  is  from  our  old  Australian  friend,  Rook  !  " 
exclaimed  Harkaway. 

"  Rook  ! " 

"  Yes.     And  this  is  what  Rook  has  to  say  for  himself. 

" '  If  ever  a  man  had  reason  to  be  grateful  to  another, 
surely  I  have  cause  to  bless  the  day  I  met  you.  For  thanks 
to  you,  I  am  no  longer  an  outcast,  but  have  atoned  for  the 
past — aye,  and  refunded  with  interest  that  sum  of  money 
which  was  the  cause  of  my  being  sent  here.  Through  your 
kindness  I  was  enabled  to  go  into  business  as  a  farmer,  and  1 
have  prospered  so  that  I  am  now  one  of  the  richest  men  in 
this  part  of  Australia  ;  but  I  owe  all  my  prosperity  to  you,  so 
I  will  not  boast  of  it.  Being  better  educated  than  many  of 
the  settlers,  I  have  been  appointed  magistrate  for  the  dis- 
trict ;  but  whenever  I  can  be  lenient  without  being  unjust,  I 
humble  myself,  remember  what  I  once  was,  and  try  to  give 
the  culprit  another  chance.  Heaven  has  greatly  prospered 
me,  and  I  pray  that  Heaven's  blessings  may  rest  on  you  and 
yours.'  " 

"  Bravo,  Rook  !  "  said  Harvey  and  Harry  Girdwood. 
*####•# 

"  What  are  you  thinking  about,  Jack  !  "  asked  Harry,  a 
day  or  two  after. 

"  About  old  Mole." 

"  What  about  him  ?  " 

"  Why,  we  haven't  had  a  good  lark  with  him  since  we  left 
Marseilles." 

"  True." 

"  The  old  man  will  get  rusty  if  we  don't  wake  him  up  a 
little." 

"  Well,  what  is  your  idea  ? " 

"  Haven't  any  at  the  present ;  but  something  will  turn  up." 

And  something  did  turn  up  that  very  day. 

Now  it  should  be  known  that  Mole,  although  he  passed 
the  greater  time  with  his  old  friends,  had  taken  a  small  cot- 
tage close  by  so  that  he  might  not  entirely  wear  out  their 
hospitality. 

He  generally  slept  there,  but  spent  his  days  with  the  Hark- 
aways. 

Jack  and  Harry  called  upon  the  old  man,  and  were  ad- 
mitted to  his  presence,  as  he  was  putting  the  finishing- 
touches  to  his  toilet 


259 

This  consisted  in  anointing  his  bald  head  with  some 
wonderful  fluid,  warranted  to  produce  a  luxuriant  growth  of 
hair. 

This  gave  the  youths  an  idea,  and  having  invited  him  to 
dinner,  they  departed  to  carry  out  their  joke. 

All  passed  off  pleasantly  during  the  evening,  but  Jack  and 
Harry  were  absent  about  an  hour.  During  that  time 
they  procured  access  to  Mole's  premises,  and  having  emptied 
his  bottle  of  hair  restorer,  filled  the  phial  with  liquid  glue, 
after  which  they  returned  to  the  house. 

u  I  must  go  early,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  rising.  "  I  have  to 
attend  court  as  a  juryman  in  the  morning." 

"  Then  you  won't  be  able  to  dress  your  hair  properly,"  said 
Jack. 

"  Oh,  yes  ;  I  shall  put  on  a  good  dose  before  I  leave  home, 
that  will  last  till  evening,"  replied  Mole. 

He  went  home,  but  overslept  himself,  and  had  to  dress  in 
a  hurry. 

Mole  had  got  to  the  door,  when  he  remembered  the  hair 
restorer,  and  going  back,  applied  a  plentiful  dose  with  a 
sponge. 

He  reached  the  court  very  hot 

By  that  time  the  glue  had  set,  and  he  found  he  could  not 
remove  his  hat. 

"  Isaac  Mole  !  "  shouted  the  official  who  was  calling  the 

"  Here  !  "  replied  Mole,  as  he  rushed  to  the  box. 

A  murmur  of  astonishment  was  heard. 

a  Hats  off  in  court  !  "  shouted  the  usher. 

«  Really,  I " 

"  Everyone  must  be  uncovered  in  court." 

"  But,  I  assure  you,  I  can't " 

"  Are  you  a  Quaker  ?  "  demanded  the  judge. 

"  No  ;  but  I  wish  to  explain  that  I  kept  my  hat  on 
because " 

a  I  can  not  listen  to  any  excuse  except  the  one  I  men- 
tioned. Take  off  your  hat  instantly." 

"  But  I  say  I  kept  it  on  because " 

"  This  is  intolerable.  Do  you  mean  to  insult  the  court  ! 
Take  vour  hat  off  instantly,  or  I  will  fine  you  for  contempt." 

"  Well,  I  must  say  it's  hard  I  can't  say  a  word." 

"  You  are  fined  five  pounds,  and  if  you  don't  remove  yant 
ha± 


260  YOUNG  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

"  I  want  to  explain." 

"  Officer,  remove  that  man's  hat." 

The  tipstaff  approached  Mole  and  hit  the  offending  hat 
with  his  stick,  but  it  did  not  move. 

Then  he  struck  it  harder,  and  the  crown  went  in. 

"  This  is  too  bad  !  "  screamed  Mole. 

But  the  tipstaff  was  wroth,  and  picking  up  a  large  law- 
book  smashed  it  flat. 

This  was  too  much  for  Mole. 

"  You  mutton-headed  idiot,  if  you  and  the  judge  had  a 
particle  of  sense,  you  would  know  that  I  did  not  remove  my 
hat,  because  I  couldn't.  It  is  glued  on." 

Mole,  however,  was  led  away  in  custody  and  a  fresh  jury- 
man sworn. 

But  Jack  and  Harry,  who  had  been  highly  amused  specta- 
tors, thought  the  joke  had  gone  far  enough,  so  they  tipped 
a  solicitor  through  whom  an  explanation  was  made,  and 
Mole  was  released.  He  also  got  off  serving  on  the  jury. 

They  left  the  court  together. 

But  another  surprise  was  in  store  for  them. 

"  How  are  you,  gentlemen  ?  "  said  a  very  familiar  voice, 
and,  lo  !  Figgins  the  orphan  stood  before  them. 

Figgins  had  not  remained  in  Marseilles  like  the  others,  and 
therefore,  had  escaped  being  arrested  for  counterfeit  coin- 
ing. 

He  reached  London  in  safety,  and  having  taken  the  upper 
part  of  a  house  within  half  a  mile  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  re- 
solved never  more  to  trust  himself  beyond  the  City  bound- 
aries. 

Yet,  in  his  retirement,  his  conscience  pricked  him  for  hav- 
ing left  so  hurriedly  the  friends  who  had  rescued  him  from 
many  a  danger. 

And  Mole,  too,  his  own   particular  travelling  companion. 

"  I  must  go  and  see  him  once  more,"  thought  the  orphan. 

So  one  fine  day  he  plucked  up  courage  to  venture  a  short 
journey  on  an  English  railway,  and  knowing  where  the  elder 
Harkaway  lived,  was  speedily  instructed  how  to  find  Mole. 

So  now  behold  him  shaking  hands  all  round. 

"  I  thought  I  must  see  you  once  more,"  said  he,  "  but  it 
is  a  great  undertaking,  you  know,  for  my  travels  made  me 
more  timid  than  ever  I  was." 

"  Timid  ? "  ejaculated  Mole ;  "  why,  on  one  or  two  occa- 
sions you  displayed  bravery  almost  equal  to  my  own." 


OJ5  BOY  TZXOOL, 

Mr.  Male,-  said  J«±_ 
Harkaway,  yon  three 
botlamonlyapoortinmlc 
•That  need  not  make  ^ 
"Bet  it  does.    So  I  have  lesotaed  never  to  tnst 


I  a 
said  Mole,  -for  I,  yon  know,  hate  tow.  fife. 

**  Certainty.CT 

grateful  for  an  yon  did  nma 
-  Don  t  mention  iL~ 
-Mr.  Mole,  farewelL    Yon  know  I  feel  more  fike  mi 

ever  now  I  am  parting  from  yon.1* 
Don  ttttalkfilz  that,  Rggjns,- said  Mofc, 
I  cant  help  it,  indeed,  I  can't.      Farewell,  my  dear 
noV  farewell !" 
And  Ffegns  renved  ID  his  City  home,  when  h«atil  fives, 
tfaot^  be  is  getting  ^ery  feeble. 

SbH,  he  br^pAens  np  whenever  he  speaks  of  h*s  ola  faemd 


ItishaidtopartwithoW  fe*esds  %=t  the  decrees  off  fate 


as  this  world  can 

Jack  and  Harry  haie 
and  are  wealthy  conntry 

They  are  fond  of  outdoor   sports,  am 
~*JJkM  a  pack  of  harriers.  Tinker  and 
Biff  *  ii*>.lji  fir<*'  and  second  wlu|i&.    In  eac 
there  was  formerly  a  room  kept  always  ready  for  Mr.  Mole, 
who  went  from  one  to  the  other  as  it  pleased  him,  snre  of  a 

—  ,•!«»»•      -     -    ----- 

weftCQBBc  wnxSte 

s !  poor  Mole  is  now  no  more. 

,  shaken  body,  and  at 


262  YOUNG  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  ANL, 

Even  then  he  could  not  help  referring  to  the  matrimonial 
portion  of  his  life. 

"  I  have  been  too  much  married,  Jack.  I  am  '  a  wictim 
to  connubiality,'  if  I  may  be  allowed  to  quote  Sam  Weller ; 
but  never  again,  dear  boy." 

And  when  only  half  conscious,  he  would  repeat — "  Never 
again,  dear  boy,"  expressing  his  firm  determination  not  to 
marry  again. 

Poor  Mole! 

After  all,  he  ended  his  days  in  peace,  and  died  regretted 
by  all  his  friends,  who,  if  they  had  laughed  at  his  failings, 
also  remembered  his  kindly  disposition. 

He  left  behind  him  sufficient  of  this  world's  goods  to 
enable  his  faithful  Chloe  to  give  the  twins  a  good  education. 

They  are  now  rollicking  schoolboys,  but  will  have  a  fair 
Start  when  their  guardians,  Jack  and  Harry,  fancy  they  are 
fitted  to  begin  their  battle  with  life. 

*****# 

Old  Jack — he  is  getting  old  now — lives  with  Emily  not 
far  from  his  son,  and  with  them,  of  course,  is  Dick  Harvey. 

Often  on  a  fine  day  Old  Jack  will  lead  his  grandchildren 
to  the  village  churchyard,  and  while  the  youngsters  deck 
poor  old  Mole's  grave  with  flowers,  will  relate  to  them  the 
best  incidents  of  the  old  man's  life. 

Not  far  from  poor  Mole's  grave  is  another  tomb,  in  which 
rest  the  earthly  remains  of  Monday,  Prince  of  Limbi,  who 
had  grown  grey  in  the  service  of  Mr.  Harkaway. 

A  much  severer  winter  than  usual  laid  the  seeds  of  a 
complaint  which  speedily  carried  him  off. 

Sunday,  whose  head  is  fast  becoming  white  as  snow,  took 
his  death  much  to  heart,  and  even  now  frequently  strolls 
into  the  quiet  churchyard  to  indulge  in  pensive  recollections 
of  his  old  friend  by  the  side  of  his  grave — aye,  and  perchance 
to  reflect  on  his  own  end,  which  he  knows  full  well  must  be 
fast  approaching. 

Monday  had  been  thrifty,  and  when  the  days  of  mourning 
were  over,  his  widow  retired  to  Oxford  to  pass  the  remainder 
of  her  days  with  many  good  presents  from  Jack  Harkaway, 
given  in  remembrance  of  his  faithful  servant  Monday,  the 
Prince  of  Limbi. 

****** 

Readers,  our  tale  is  told;  and  we  leave  Harkaway  to 
the  repose  he  has  so  well  earned. 


HIS  BOY  TINKER.  263 

Bat  if  you  would  prosper  as  he  has  done,  be  like  him, 
truthful,  brave,  and  generous. 

In  bringing  to  a  conclusion  the  long  series  of  Harkaway 
stories,  Mr.  Edwin  J.  Brett  cannot  let  the  occasion  pass 
without  thanking  the  readers  for  the  patience  with  which 
they  have  followed  the  hero's  career,  and  the  praise  they 
have  always  bestowed  upon  the  story  or  stories. 

To  invent  the  plot  and  incidents  has  been  a  labour  of  love 
on  the  part  of  Mr.  E.  J.  Brett,  and  it  seems  now  like  parting 
from  old  and  intimate  friends,  to  say  adieu  to  all  the 
characters  whose  lives  have  been  the  subject  of  the  story. 
Bit  there  must  be  an  cad  to  all  things,  even  to  Harkaway. 


Famous  Books  by  Famous  Authors 


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SLOPE: 

By  JAMES  OTIS 

The  hero  of  this  story  is  a  young  boy 
who,  in  order  to  assist  his  mother,  worka 
as  a  "breaker"  in  a  coal  mine.  Ihe  book 
tells  how  coal  miners  work;  their  social 
condition;  their  hardships  and  pri- 
vations. 

TEDDY 

By  JAMES   OTIS 

A  captivating  story  of  how  Teddy,  a  village  boy,  helped  to  raise  the 
mortgage  on  his  mother's  home,'  and  the  means  he  took  for  doing  so.  The 
obstacles  his  crabbed  unrle  placed  in  his  way;  his  connection  with  the 
fakirs  at  the  County  Fair;  his  successful  Cane  and  Knife  Board  venture; 
his  queer  lot  of  friends  and  how  they  aided  kim;  and  how  he  finally  out- 
witted his  enemies. 


TELEGRAPH  TOM'S  VENTURE 

By  JAMES  OTIS 

A  highly  entertaining  story  of  the  adventures  of  a   boy  who  assisted  a 
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is   both   interesting   and  instructive  in  that  it  shows 
wn  r 
ork. 


hat  a  bright 


boy  can  accomplish  when  thrown  upon  his  own  resources,  and  also  portrays 
the  manner  in  which  such  officers  do  their 


MESSENGER  NO.  48 

By  JAMES  OTIS 

Relates  the  experience  of  a  faithful  messenger  boy  in  a  large  city,  who  in 
answering  a  call  was  the  means  of  ferreting  out  a  band  of  criminals  who 
for  years  had  baffled  the  police  and  detectives.  The  story  tells  of  the  many 
dangers  and  hardships  these  boys  have  to  undergo,  the  important  services 
the>  often  render  by  their  clever  movements;  and  how  by  his  fidelity  to 
duty,  Messenger  Boy.  No.  48  rose  to  a  most  important  position  of  trust  and 
honor.  It  teaches  boys  that  self-reliance,  pluck  and  the  faithful  performance 
of  duties  are  the  real  secrets  of  success.  241  pages. 

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L  009  536  737  1 


